On 12 December 2018, a historic sod-turning event symbolised a major milestone in the ongoing development of SPU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2014, the University\npurchased a property, close to Central Campus, later designated as South Campus;\na site which is to be developed primarily for students combining sports\nactivities, student support facilities and student residences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2016, a funding\napplication was submitted by the SPU to the National Lottery Commission (NLC)\nfor funding to establish sporting facilities on South Campus and improve the\nexisting field on Central Campus. The amount granted over three tranches\namounts to R25,911,24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This project significantly contributes to the National Sports, Arts and Culture Department\u2019s priority to provide high-quality sporting facilities for all South African communities and the NC NLC will have created a wonderful legacy as SPU students return to their communities with the skills to develop disadvantaged sporting clubs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The grant is a welcome addition\nto the planned SPU infrastructure growth as the grant will support the\ndevelopment of facilities for all the student sporting codes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dignitaries included, Ms\nThabang Charlotte Mampane – the NLC Commissioner, Mr Mothibi Ramusi \u2013 the NLC\nChief Information Officer, Dr. MA Madzivhandila \u2013 Member of the NLC Board, Mr\nClive Moses \u2013 the NLC Northern Cape Provincial Manager, Prof Yunus Ballim \u2013 SPU\nVice Chancellor, Sol Plaatje University representatives and members of the\nmedia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ceremony commenced in the\nUniversity Library auditorium with a programme including an introduction by Ms Thabang Charlotte Mampane \u2013 the NLC\nCommissioner describing the NLC Mission, a description of the NLC imperative by Mr Mothibi \u2013 the NLC Information Officer and a moving address\nby Dr. MA Madzivhandila \u2013 a member of the NLC Board added further impetus to the programme. A Message of Support was\nreceived from the Northern Cape\nProvincial Government. The SPU Vice-Chancellor,\nProf Yunus Ballim followed with a Vote of Thanks on behalf of SPU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thereafter, the dignitaries and guests moved to the site of the first sports field on South Campus, where the National Lotteries Commission handed over a symbolic cheque. The NLC Commissioner and the NLC ceremonial sod-turning was followed immediately by the appointed contractor\u2019s earthmoving equipment commencing work on the site; a confirmation that this project was now truly on its way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NLC funding provides for state-of-the-art sports facilities which include a combination field providing for cricket, rugby and soccer, an astroturf hockey field and a series of combination hard courts providing for tennis, netball, volleyball, five-a-side, for example, on South Campus and an upgrade of the existing Central Campus Cricket field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sol Plaatje University (SPU)\nwas established in 2014. Since then the university has undergone an extensive\nbuilding programme with classrooms, auditoria and laboratories, student residences,\nstudent support facilities, academic and administration office being\nconstructed to support the planned student enrolment for 8,400 students by\n2028. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"