Pretoria, 27 March 2026 – The University of South Africa (UNISA) has purchased an airport on the eastern edge of Pretoria, telling reporters the site will open for aviation, aeronautics and drone training between April and May next year.
Vice — Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula disclosed the acquisition at the close of a five-year performance review on Wednesday, saying the “aviation ecosystem” would let the correspondence university’s students practise on a working runway. Professor Boitumelo Senokoane added the move targets skills shortages in aviation and engineering.
The purchase marks a pivot for the 150-year-old institution, which teaches more than 400 000 students in 130 countries mainly through distance education. Recent initiatives include the Drone Divas programme that trains women in piloting and maintenance, an aerotropolis symposium and a General Aviation Indaba.
Officials did not release the purchase price or runway length but said priority access will go to UNISA engineering, transport — management and IT students, with industry partners and other universities able to book time once the facility is operational.
Source: panafricanpost
