Walter Sisulu University

ABOUT USUniversity’s historyWalter Sisulu University (WSU) was established on 1 July, 2005 in terms of the Higher Education Act No. 101 of 1997, as amended.The new university was named in honour of an icon of the South African liberation struggle, the late Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu who was a close comrade of Nelson Mandela.From 2002 to 2005, the South African higher education landscape underwent an extensive merger and incorporation process to bring about a more equitable dispensation to meet the requirements of a fast-developing, new democratic nation.The existing thirty-six universities and “technikons” were merged in various ways to produce twenty-six universities in three categories:Traditional academic universitiesComprehensive universities (which offer both academic and technological qualifications)Universities of technology.As one of six comprehensive universities in South Africa, WSU has positioned itself as a developmental university focusing on urban renewal and rural development.It may be characterised as scientific, technological, innovative and responsive to local community needs, the requirements of commerce and industry and the socio-economic niche areas of national government.WSU is uniquely positioned to play a powerful role in the national government’s new focus on rural development in particular.Over 30,000 students and about 1,800 live and work across four campuses with 13 delivery sites in Mthatha, Butterworth, Buffalo City (East London) and Queenstown.