Rand Afrikaans University is established

The Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the second university with its seat in Johannesburg, was established by an act of parliament as the academic home of Afrikaans-speaking students. Through its academic excellence and relevance, the University managed to attract students, academics, donors and business partners from all communities and language groups. Following restructuring of higher education introduced by the minister of education, Prof. Kader Asmal, the University was merged with the Witwatersrand Technikon and the two Vista campuses of Soweto and the East Rand, to form the University of Johannesburg (UJ). UJ was officially launched on 1 January 2005. It now boasts four campuses, Auckland Park Kingsway, Auckland Park Bunting, Doornfontein and Soweto. The University now has approximately 46 000 students spread over five campuses across the city.