Akademia, die onafhanklike Afrikaanse hoëronderwysinstelling, en die eiendomsbeleggingsmaatskappy, Kanton, het vandag, 28 November 2025, ʼn groot en vasberade tree geneem in die verwesenliking van hul wêreldklas studietuiste in die ooste van Pretoria. ʼn Sooispitseremonie is op die Mooiplaats-terrein (agt kilometer vanaf Solomon Mahlangu-rylaan op die Boschkop-pad) gehou om die aanvang van die langverwagte eerste konstruksiefase van dié monumentale ontwikkelingsprojek in te lei. Dié projek is die grootste van sy soort in die geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse taal- en kultuurgemeenskappe wat hoër onderwys betref. Hierdie eerste fase, met ʼn beleggingsomvang van R1,8 miljard, sal in Januarie 2026 ʼn aanvang neem.

Die geskiedkundige sooispitseremonie van die Akademia-kampusontwikkeling verteenwoordig die aanvang van die eerste konstruksiefase van dié wêreldklas kampus in die ooste van Pretoria. Hooggeplaastes wat aan die seremonie deelgeneem het, sluit in Flip Buys (voorsitter: Solidariteit Beweging), Dirk Hermann (bestuurshoof: Solidariteit), Henk Schalekamp (besturende direkteur: Kanton) en Marthinus Visser (besturende direkteur: Akademia).

Die hoofkontrakteurs vir hierdie fase is JC van der Linde en Venter Bouers, wat ook verantwoordelik was vir die suksesvolle aflewering van die Sol-Tech-kampus.

Lede van die publiek het op die dag die geleentheid gehad om saam aan ʼn simboliese klipstapel te bou. Dié klipstapel sal later die voetstuk vorm van die Toekomsbouer™-gedenkbeeld wat op die kampus opgerig sal word as ʼn tasbare nalatenskap.

Hierdie kampusontwikkeling wat as die Toekomsbouer™-veldtog bekendstaan, is in Augustus 2024 aangekondig en verteenwoordig ʼn dinamiese vennootskap tussen die instelling en Kanton.

Akademia sal met die ingang van 2028 hierdie voltooide infrastruktuur en studietuiste as langtermynhuurder benut terwyl Kanton só prakties gestalte gee aan die uiters dinamiese vennootskap wat hy tussen kultuur en kapitaal bewerkstellig.

“Kanton se rol in hierdie ontwikkeling berus op die bewese model dat kultuur en kapitaal in vennootskap ʼn wen-wen-situasie tot gevolg sal hê,” verduidelik Schalekamp. “Wanneer kapitaal ruimte skep vir die voortbestaan van ʼn gemeenskap se kultuurgoedere en kultuur aan die gestelde voorwaardes voldoen, onstaan daar ʼn vennootskap wat goeie finansiële sowel as kulturele opbrengste lewer. Hierdie kampus is nie slegs ʼn goeie belegging nie. Dit is ʼn verbintenis tot die voortsetting van Afrikaanse hoër onderwys as ʼn lewende erfenis,” verduidelik Schalekamp.

Die nuwe Akademia-kampus verteenwoordig ʼn grootse droom wat reeds met die instelling se ontstaan in 2012 in die vooruitsig gestel is. Oor die afgelope dertien jaar het die instelling van krag tot krag gegroei met ʼn dinamiese programverskeidenheid binne vyf fakulteite (voorgraads en nagraads), méér as 3 800 studente (voltyds op kampus én nauurs oor afstand), ʼn lewenskragtige studentelewe, ʼn suksesvolle uitbreiding van sy voltydse kampusmodel na die Paarl asook ʼn indrukwekkende internasionale voetspoor.

Dit is dan ook juis hierdie gesonde groeitrajek wat ʼn toegewyde en geïntegreerde ruimte noodsaak. Binne hierdie milieu sal die instelling sy roepingsvisie, naamlik om ʼn akademiese tuiste te bied waar denke én hart gevorm word met die oog op ʼn vrye toekoms, verdere stukrag sal kan gee.

Volgens Marthinus Visser, besturende direkteur van Akademia, getuig die sooispitseremonie nie nét van meer as ʼn dekade se doelgerigte en strategiese beplanning nie, maar óók van die instelling se verbondenheid tot die gemeenskap en die uitbouing van die Afrikaanse universiteitswese. “Vandag se gebeure vul ʼn mens met nederigheid en ʼn diepe dankbaarheid. Hier word nie net ʼn kampus opgerig nie; hier word ʼn tuiste geskep vir toekomstige generasies studente wat in Afrikaans wil leer en lééf. Vandag is die resultaat van jare se volgehoue geloof en gemeenskaplikheid,” sê Visser. Hy voeg by dat dié kampus daarom nie net aan Akademia behoort nie, maar aan die groter Afrikaanse taal- en kultuurgemeenskappe wat onverpoosd bou aan ʼn hoopvolle en vrye toekoms.

• - Januarie 2017 tot Desember 2018 | Identifiseer geskikte ligging en grond


• - Januarie 2019 tot Augustus 2019 | Ontwikkelingsnoulettendheidsondersoek


• - Januarie 2021 tot Februarie 2024 | Verkry ontwikkelingsregte


• - Julie 2021 tot Februarie 2024 | Verkry toestemming ná afloop van omgewingsimpakstudie


• - Mei 2024 | Koop die grond aan vir R50 miljoen


• - Januarie 2024 tot Desember 2024 | Konsepontwikkeling


• - November 2024 tot Desember 2025 | Kapitaalwerwing en finansiering


• - Junie 2025 tot Desember 2025 | Massagrondwerke


• - Januarie 2026 tot Desember 2027 | Aanvang van die konstruksiefase

Fase een van die projek verteenwoordig die kern van die toekomstige kampus. Dit sluit talle moderne lesingslokale in, gevorderde laboratoria, toegewysde navorsingsruimtes, personeelruimtes asook verskeie ondersteuningsfasiliteite. Die ontwerp sal voorts die integrasie van innoverende ruimtes, tegnologie en vlot menslike interaksie beklemtoon.

Ander infrastruktuurhoogtepunte in dié fase sluit in:

• - ʼn studentesentrum van 2 500 vierkante meter as die sosiale spilpunt van die kampus;
  koshuise vir sowat 750 studente waarna die kapasiteit gedurende die tweede fase tot 1 500 uitgebrei sal word;


• - ʼn indrukwekkende toegangspunt tot die akademiese kampus, Die Poort, wat uit agt boë van 18 meter elk bestaan; en


• - ʼn amfiteater met ʼn kapasiteit vir 1 500 mense as kultuur- en saamkomsruimte.


• - ʼn Kapelplein omring deur waterkanale en pragtuine, sal die betekenisvolle middelpunt van die kampus se geestelike en seremoniële aktiwiteite wees.


• - ʼn Imposante koepelstruktuur van glas en staal (20 meter hoog en 32 meter in deursnee) sal tot die klassieke argitektoniese bouplan bydra.

Die ingenieursomvang van die projek word deur die skaal van die voorgestelde ontwikkeling beklemtoon en hoogtepunte in dié verband sluit in:

• - die verskuiwing van meer as 220 000 kubieke meter grond;


• - die aanlê van meer as 23 kilometer se ondergrondse pype;


• - ʼn waterbergingsvermoë van 19,3 miljoen liter;


• - die gebruik van ongeveer 7,1 miljoen bakstene;


• - die aanlê van 40 kilometer se optiese vesel; en


• - die ontwikkeling van sowat 30 000 vierkante meter se teerpaaie.

Schalekamp en Visser som die dag se gebeure op deur te sê dat ʼn seremoniële sooispit dalk na ʼn geringe aksie kan lyk, só ook die neerlê van klippe op ʼn klipstapel, maar dat die dag se gebeure die fondasie vir komende generasies lê. Dit spreek verder tot die ongelooflike behoefte én vertroue wat met die Afrikaanse universiteitswese gepaardgaan.

Vir foto’s, video’s, klankgrepe en grafika, klik hier: https://workspace.kraftdesignsmiths.com/Akademia-Sooispit-2025-Vir-mediagebruik-2b8be60f9f43805bb0c7fdc193eb4363?source=copy_link

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 historic sod turning ceremony of the Akademia campus development represents the commencement of the first construction phase of this world-class campus in the east of Pretoria. Dignitaries who participated in the ceremony included Flip Buys (chairperson: Solidarity Movement), Dirk Hermann (chief executive officer: Solidarity Movement), Henk Schalekamp (managing director: Kanton) and Marthinus Visser (managing director: Akademia).

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. According to Henk Schalekamp, managing director of Kanton, the chosen main contractors’ experience, expertise, discipline, and shared values attest to their designation as the team to handle this complex development.

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.

Members of the public had the opportunity to build together on a symbolic stone pile on the day. This stone pile will later form the pedestal for the Toekomsbouer™ memorial statue, which will be erected on campus as a tangible legacy.

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 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.

• - 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

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.

For photos, videos, audio clips, and graphics, click here: https://workspace.kraftdesignsmiths.com/Akademia-Sooispit-2025-Vir-mediagebruik-2b8be60f9f43805bb0c7fdc193eb4363?source=copy_link