The Democratic Era 1994 - present
Democratic elections
On 27 April, South Africa holds its first democratic elections. The ANC wins by a significant majority, and Nelson Mandela becomes president of a carefully negotiated “government of national unity”.
1994
Reforming education
Unisa’s new transition-period Principal, Professor Marinus Wiechers, starts to reform the education faculty, attacking courses that perpetuate apartheid pedagogies.
1994-97
Genocide in Rwanda
Century-old tensions between Rwanda’s Hutu and Tutsi populations explode into a coordinated slaughter, planned by Hutu elites, in which soldiers and militia kill up to 800,000 Tutsis over three months.
1994
Sports victories
South Africa hosts and wins both the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. Both events are hailed as victories for national reconciliation under the Mandela administration.
1995-96
Towards national healing
In a process aimed at helping to heal the nation’s psychological scars, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins its hearings on human rights violations committed under apartheid.
1996
A new constitution
After two years of public consultation and debate, South Africa’s new Constitution is adopted. It lays the foundation for a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
1996
Higher Education Act
The Higher Education Act is passed. It seeks to reverse the legacy of Bantu Education, to create a knowledge-driven society, and to “respect and encourage democracy, academic freedom, … scholarship and research”.
1997
New campuses
Unisa’s Western Cape Hub in Parow is inaugurated in 1997, and in the following year, the University opens its Sunnyside Campus near central Pretoria.
1997-98
Facing global climate change
Most of the world’s industrialised nations commit to the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global climate change.
1997
Democracy matures
South Africa peacefully holds its second democratic national election, won by the ANC. President Nelson Mandela declines a second term of office and is replaced by Thabo Mbeki.
1999
A transparent vice-chancellorship
Professor Antony Melck becomes the first Unisa Vice-Chancellor to be appointed through a fully transparent, democratically inclusive process. During his three-year tenure, he introduces modern business management practices to Unisa.
1999
Millennium celebrations
Across the world, billions celebrate the arrival of the Western calendar’s new millennium — despite fears that computerised systems will crash, globally, on attempting to clock the unprecedented “2000”.
2000
First black Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Theologian, attorney and former anti-apartheid activist Professor Nyameko Barney Pityana becomes Unisa’s first black Principal and Vice-Chancellor. He will guide Unisa towards racially equitable transformation and Africanisation.
2001
Wikipedia launched
Free to all, with content created through the accumulation of voluntary contributions, Wikipedia will become the world’s most popular encyclopaedia, epitomising the democratisation of knowledge promised by the Internet.
2001
Arms Deal allegations
Mounting allegations suggest bribery in the 1999 “Arms Deal” — government’s R30-billion commitment to European armaments manufacturers. The allegations divide the ANC and still haunt South African politics.
2001
Terror on September 11th
Al-Qaeda suicide operatives hijack four airliners and pilot them as missiles toward iconic American buildings — most devastatingly, New York’s Twin Towers. Soon after, the US begins its controversial “War on Terror”.
2001
Prestigious accreditation
After a rigorous assessment process, Unisa is formally accredited by the US’s Distance Education and Training Council. It becomes the only African institution to be so accredited.
2002
Soweto’s first museum
The Hector Pieterson Museum, named after a 13-year-old student slain by police during the Soweto Uprising of 1976, becomes the first museum to open in Soweto.
2002
Embracing an African renaissance
Unisa launches its Institute for African Renaissance Studies, which is dedicated to the production and dissemination of African knowledge by Africans and to the creation of African responses to Africa’s needs.
2003
Iraq invaded
Defying international opinion, the US and its military allies invade Iraq on the pretext that Saddam Hussein’s regime is developing “weapons of mass destruction”. The region plunges into ongoing chaos.
2003
Partnering in Africa
The African Council on Distance Education (ACDE) is launched at Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya. The ACDE becomes the backbone of several of Unisa’s high-level African partnerships and expansion projects.
2004
A ministerial merger
Despite resistance from the Unisa Council, Minister of Education Kader Asmal merges Technikon SA and the distance education component of Vista University into Unisa. Unisa now embraces a college system, dispensing with its old faculties.
2004
Social media boom begins
Facebook launches in 2004, followed by Twitter in 2006. These two websites, assisted by convergence between communications technologies, epitomise a new form of social interaction and commentary.
2004-06
Gay rights upheld
South Africa’s Constitutional Court extends the common-law definition of marriage to include same-sex spouses and gives Parliament one year to amend the country’s marriage statutes accordingly.
2005
myUnisa arrives
Unisa launches an online portal called myUnisa, which is designed to facilitate the studies and study-related communications of Unisa students worldwide — another exciting step in Unisa’s transformation into an online university.
2006
A new brand identity
After a collaborative process involving extensive surveys and focus groups, Unisa unveils its new, African brand identity, including a new motto: Pro Gentibus Sapientia or ‘learning in the service of humanity’.
2006
Global financial crisis
After years of reckless lending and the selling-on of debt, America’s housing-finance bubble bursts, precipitating a global collapse of overcommitted banks. South Africa’s tightly regulated banking system remains largely immune, however.
2006-08
Ethiopian campus opens
Affirming its commitment to the African continent, Unisa opens a Regional Learning Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Within three years, the Centre will have more than 5,000 students at all levels.
2007
The ANC in Polokwane
At the ANC’s National Conference in Polokwane, Jacob Zuma unseats Thabo Mbeki as the party’s leader. Though plagued by scandal, the “populist” Zuma will succeed to the national presidency in 2009.
2007
Xenophobia shames South Africa
Waves of xenophobic violence, directed against immigrants from other African countries, spread through townships and informal settlements. Though quelled by police and civil action, sporadic outbreaks persist, with new outbreaks in 2015.
2008
Obama euphoria
Barack Obama becomes the first African-American president of the US. His direct African descent, as the son of a Kenyan economist, raises hopes for a fresh American approach to Africa.
2009
Two million books
Unisa’s library acquires its two-millionth book. Today it stands as the largest academic library in Africa, with a collection of over 2,750,000 items.
2009
World Cup success
South Africa hosts the first FIFA World Cup tournament held in Africa. Deemed “the most successful World Cup ever”, it boosts national morale and global confidence in South Africa.
2010
Cultivating service
Professor Mandla Makhanya becomes the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa. He articulates a strongly service-orientated vision and culture for the University and makes practical structural adjustments towards fulfilling this.
2011
Unisa Radio goes global
Unisa FM 98.9, started in 2008, is rebranded as ‘Unisa Radio’. Internet radio-streaming technology enables the station to reach Unisa students around the world.
2012
Lethal force at Marikana
Following violent unrest in South Africa’s mining sector, police echo colonial and apartheid-era militarism. They fire on workers striking at Lonmin’s Marikana Platinum Mine, killing 45 and wounding many more.
2012
World mourns Mandela
The world and the nation mourn Nelson Mandela’s passing at the age of 95. He rests, figuratively, beside Gandhi and Martin Luther King as a global icon of peace.
2013
Reinforcing science
Aiming to provide a world-class home for research scientists and students, Unisa opens a renovated, revitalised Science Hub at its Florida Campus in Roodepoort.
2013
Unisa celebrates
Unisa celebrates its 140-year history and dawning future. In the words of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Mandla Makhanya: “In a country of opposites, disparity and diversity, Unisa has perhaps been the single constant.”
2013-15
White Paper for Higher Education
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr “Blade” Nzimande, launches the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training, emphasising the need for greater access to higher education and for the establishment of more universities in South Africa.
2014
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FEES MUST FALL
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"Fees Must Fall' movement leads to University-wide protests against escalating costs of higher education in South Africa, intensified by 'capping' of fee increases by the Ministry at 8% per. Supported by Unisa students on Muckleneuk campus. In late 2016 Unisa announces differentiated fee increases of approximately 4% for undergraduate courses.
2015-2016
RHODES MUST FALL
'Universities shaken by 'Rhodes Must Fall' campaign demanding the 'decolonisation' of higher education. Unisa's 'Africanisation ' policy and programmes offset the impact of the movement on Unisa campuses.
2015
JUDGE BERNARD NGOEPE STEPS DOWN AS CHANCELLOR
Judge Bernard Ngoepe steps down as Chancellor after 15 years at the helm. He is succeeded by former President Thabo Mbeki, formalising a long association between Mbeki and Unisa.
2016
DR THABO MBEKI INAUGURATED AS CHANCELLOR
His Excellency Dr Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, an outstanding African intellectual giant and the most recognisable 21st century proponent of the African Renaissance is officially inaugurated as Chancellor on Monday 27 February 2017.
2017
UNISA'S REGIONAL MODEL
In 2017 there were seven Unisa regional centres or 'hubs' in full operation. Eastern and Western Cape, Gauteng, KZN, Midlands, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with regional head offices in East London, Cape Town, Sunnyside (Pretoria), Durban, Rustenburg, Polokwane and Nelspruit respectively The hubs, in turn, were responsible for the operations of smaller service centres or agencies. The regional hubs and service centres offered administrative and student (academic) support and advice, library services and career counselling.
The Unisa regional model represents a remarkable venture to bring university education to students across the country, especially those in more remote and rural districts.
2017
HALALA, HALALA, HALALA, UNISA
With drama, drumbeats, dancing, declamation, and sheer delight, Unisans celebrated the 145th birthday of the venerable elder of South African universities on 4 July 2018. In the words of Professor Mandla Makhanya, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, “This university has nourished—and been nourished—by many generations of scholars, evident in the hundreds of thousands of Unisa graduates who represent every stratum in society and who are to be found in all echelons of society and public and private enterprise around the world—and who have served and achieved with distinction.”
2018
Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis
In early January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) and China Country office flagged the discovery of a virus, known as the Novel Coronavirus. The virus spreads at a high pace outside China, resulting in a global health crisis, with many countries imposing lockdown restrictions.
2020
First female Vice-Chancellor
In a move unprecedented since the establishment of the university in 148 years, the Council of the University of South Africa appoints its first female Principal and Vice-Chancellor(VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula, at the end of 2020. She assumes her duties as VC on 1 January 2021.
2021
Russia-Ukraine war
On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorizes a ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine, and Russian forces invade the country targeting Ukrainian military assets and cities.
2022
Reclaiming Africa’s intellectual futures
Unisa celebrates its 150th anniversary on 26 June 2023.