Akademia, the independent Afrikaans higher education institution, and the real estate investment company, Kanton, have today, 28 November 2025, taken a major and determined step towards the realisation of their world-class study home in the east of Pretoria. A sod turning ceremony was held at the Mooiplaats site (eight kilometres from Solomon Mahlangu Drive on the Boschkop Road) to mark the start of the long-awaited first construction phase of this monumental building development project. This project is the largest of its kind in the history of the Afrikaans language and cultural communities in terms of higher education. This first phase, with an investment volume of R1,8 billion, will commence in January 2026.

The main contractors for this phase are JC van der Linde and Venter Bouers, who were also responsible for the successful delivery of the Sol-Tech campus.

In addition to the sod turning ceremony, community members who witnessed the day had the opportunity to build together on a symbolic stone pile. This gesture is a reminder of the potential that is unlocked within collaborative communities. According to Schalekamp, this stone pile will later form the pedestal for the Toekomsbouer™ (future builder) memorial statue, which will be erected on campus as a tangible legacy.

A partnership between culture and capital

This campus development, known as the Toekomsbouer™ campaign, was announced in August 2024 and represents a dynamic partnership between the institution and Kanton.

With effect from 2028, Akademia will utilise this completed infrastructure and study home as a long-term tenant, while Kanton, in this practical way, gives shape to the highly dynamic partnership it is establishing between culture and capital.

“Kanton’s role in this development is based on the proven model that culture and capital in partnership will result in a win-win situation,” explains Schalekamp. “When capital creates space for the survival of a community’s cultural goods and culture meets the set conditions, a partnership is created that delivers good financial as well as cultural returns. This campus is not only a good investment, but it is also a commitment to the continuation of Afrikaans higher education as a living heritage,” explains Schalekamp.

The realisation of a long-standing dream

The new Akademia campus represents a grand dream that was already envisioned when the institution was founded in 2012. Over the past thirteen years, the institution has grown from strength to strength with a dynamic programme variety within five faculties (undergraduate and postgraduate), more than 3 800 students (full-time on campus and after-hours over distance), a vibrant student life, a successful expansion of its full-time campus model to Paarl, as well as an impressive international footprint.

It is precisely this healthy growth trajectory that necessitates a dedicated and integrated space. Within this environment, the institution will be able to give further impetus to its vocational vision, namely to provide an academic home where both mind and heart are formed with a view to a free future.

According to Marthinus Visser, managing director of Akademia, the sod turning ceremony not only testifies to more than a decade of purposeful and strategic planning, but also to the institution’s commitment to the community and the expansion of the Afrikaans university system. “Today’s events fill one with humility and a deep gratitude. Not only is a campus being set up here, but a home is being created here for future generations of students who want to learn and live in Afrikaans. Today is the result of years of sustained faith and communality,” says Visser. He adds that this campus, therefore, does not belong only to Akademia, but to the larger Afrikaans language and cultural communities that are relentlessly building a hopeful and free future.

This is what the planning and development process looks like

• January 2017 to December 2018 | Identify suitable location and land
• January 2019 to August 2019 | Developmental due diligence examination
• January 2021 to February 2024 | Acquire development rights
• July 2021 to February 2024 | Obtain consent after completion of environmental impact assessment
• May 2024 | Buy the land for R50 million
• January 2024 to December 2024 | Concept development
• November 2024 to December 2025 | Capital raising and financing
• June 2025 to December 2025 | Mass earthworks

• January 2026 to December 2027 | Start of the construction phase

Architectural and engineering scope

Phase one of the project represents the core of the future campus. This includes numerous state-of-the-art lecture halls, advanced laboratories, dedicated research spaces, staff spaces, and various support facilities. The design will further emphasise the integration of innovative spaces, technology, and fluent human interaction.

 Other infrastructure highlights in this phase include:

• a 2 500-square-metre student centre as the social hub of the campus;
• residences for about 750 students after which the capacity will be expanded to 1 500 during the second phase;
• an impressive entry point to the academic campus, Die Poort (the gate), which consists of eight arches of 18 meters each; and
• an amphitheatre with a capacity for 1 500 people as a cultural and gathering space.
• A chapel plaza surrounded by water canals and beautiful gardens will be the meaningful centre of the campus’s spiritual and ceremonial activities.

• An imposing dome structure of glass and steel (20 meters high and 32 meters in diameter) will add to the classic architectural building plan.

The scale of the proposed development underlines the engineering scope of the project, and highlights, in this regard, include:

• the relocation of more than 220 000 cubic metres of land;
• laying more than 23 kilometres of underground pipes;
• a water storage capacity of 19,3 million litres;
• the use of approximately 7,1 million bricks;
• the laying of 40 kilometres of optical fibre; and

• the development of some 30 000 square metres of tarmac roads.

Schalekamp and Visser summarise the day’s events by saying that a ceremonial sod turning may seem like a minor action, as may the laying of stones on a stone pile, but that the day’s events lay the foundation for future generations. This further speaks to the incredible need and trust that comes with the Afrikaans university system.