“VUT and the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce have launched a R5-million precinct revitalisation project to improve safety, accessibility and sustainability around the Vanderbijlpark campus while strengthening community partnerships.”
22 September 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Siphephelo Dlamini
6 minutes read time.
A more than R5-million infrastructure project aimed at improving safety, accessibility and sustainability around the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) officially moved into implementation on 17 September 2026, marking a significant milestone in a partnership between the University and the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCOC).
VUT and GTCOC marked the start of the Enhancement of the Precinct Outside VUT Project during a sod-turning ceremony at the Vanderbijlpark campus. The initiative will transform sections of Andries Potgieter Boulevard, a busy route used daily by students, staff, residents, commuters and businesses.
The project includes the refurbishment of pedestrian walkways and paving, improved access to the taxi rank, and the installation of solar-powered LED street lighting. However, speakers at the ceremony emphasised that the initiative represents far more than an infrastructure upgrade.
The event highlighted a shared commitment between the University, business sector and the broader community to create a safer, more accessible and sustainable environment while strengthening relationships that contribute to regional development.
Opening the programme, VUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation, Prof Simphiwe Nelana, underscored the value of partnerships that deliver benefits beyond the institutions directly involved.
He said collaboration between the University, business and surrounding communities demonstrates how strategic partnerships can translate into tangible improvements in the environment.
Prof Nelana noted that the precinct is not only a VUT space but part of a wider community environment used by people who live, work, study and conduct business in the area. He added that the project offers an opportunity to demonstrate how institutional collaboration can produce visible public benefits.
Providing the background to the project, GTCOC C-Level Member Mr Jaco Verwey reflected on the journey that brought the initiative from concept to implementation.
Mr Verwey highlighted the important role that business can play in supporting projects that improve the environment surrounding the University while strengthening relationships between VUT and the region’s business community.
According to Mr Verwey, the project has the potential to enhance the attractiveness and functionality of the precinct while opening the door to further collaboration between the University and the private sector.
For GTCOC President Ms Carla de Villiers-Malan, the project demonstrated the value of bringing different sectors together around a common goal.
She emphasised the potential of partnerships between business, education and community leadership to create meaningful change and contribute to innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation opportunities for young people.
“We need a legacy that benefits future generations together,” she said.
Her remarks positioned the project not as a once-off intervention, but as part of a broader effort to build stronger communities and create opportunities for future generations.
Delivering the keynote address, VUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Khehla Ndlovu framed the initiative within the University’s broader responsibility to its surrounding community.
“The project goes beyond physical infrastructure. It reflects our commitment to building a safer, more accessible and inclusive environment for students, staff and the broader community. Our responsibility does not end at the campus boundary; it extends to the communities with whom we share this space,” he said.
Prof Ndlovu stressed that the condition of the environment surrounding the University forms part of the experience of everyone who interacts with VUT.
He described the precinct project as a practical demonstration of what can be achieved when institutions and stakeholders work together to solve shared challenges and create lasting public value.
The Vice-Chancellor also connected the project to VUT’s long-term vision and strategic direction, particularly as the University celebrates its 60th anniversary and reflects on its future role in society.
The need for the intervention is rooted in everyday realities. Over time, sections of the precinct surrounding the University have deteriorated, with damaged walkways and inadequate lighting affecting safety, accessibility and the overall experience of people using the area.
The project responds directly to these challenges. For students walking to campus, commuters travelling to the taxi rank, staff reporting for duty, residents moving through the area and nearby businesses, the upgraded infrastructure will form part of their daily environment.
The installation of solar-powered LED lighting also introduces a sustainability component, demonstrating how infrastructure development can incorporate environmentally responsible solutions while improving public safety.
The initiative is expected to enhance the overall student experience, as the physical environment surrounding a university often serves as the first point of interaction for students, visitors and prospective stakeholders.
Safe pedestrian routes, accessible public spaces and reliable lighting contribute to a greater sense of security, belonging and connectivity.
This aligns closely with VUT’s Strategy 2033+, which identifies quality infrastructure, strategic partnerships, student experience and regional development as key priorities. The precinct project provides a tangible expression of these objectives, demonstrating how infrastructure investment
can address practical challenges while strengthening relationships between the University and its stakeholders.
Delivering the vote of thanks, VUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Resources and Operations, Mr Scelo Mahlalela, highlighted the significance of the initiative within the University’s broader infrastructure transformation agenda.
Mr Mahlalela expressed appreciation to the business community and stakeholders who contributed to the project and emphasised the importance of creating sustainable living and learning environments for students and staff.
He noted that meaningful infrastructure transformation requires partnerships, investment and sustained cooperation, describing the contribution from the business community as significant to the University’s development objectives.
His remarks pointed towards the potential for the partnership to support future transformation initiatives beyond the current project.
As VUT marks its 60th anniversary, the precinct project demonstrates how the University is translating its vision into practical action. Beyond improving infrastructure, the initiative reflects a commitment to building stronger relationships with business and the broader community while creating an environment that supports learning, economic activity and social development.
While the sod-turning ceremony marked the official start of construction, the true measure of success will be seen in the daily experiences of those who use the precinct. When the upgraded walkways are completed, the lights are switched on and people move more safely through the area, the lasting impact of the partnership will become evident in the improved quality of life it delivers to the community it serves.