On Monday, 24 April 2023, the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers, along with Minister of Higher Education, Science&Technology officially handed over the state-of-the-art University of Western Cape (UWC) Unibell student accommodation facility.

The Unibell project forms part of the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure’s Belhar CBD Precinct development. The department entered into a Land Availability Agreement (LAA) with Superstrike Investments (now Belhar CBD Development Company) in 2006, to develop the Belhar CBD precinct. In addition to this and through the Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG), the department saw a further investment of R281 Million for bulk infrastructure. 

The student accommodation component, which comprises 6 x 4-floor multi-level buildings, was made possible through a public and private partnership between:

• The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure
• The University of the Western Cape
• The National Department of Higher Education, Science&Innovation
• The Development Bank of SA 
• The Belhar CBD Development Company and Belhar-Calgro M3 as a subsidiary (developer of the residential components)

The Belhar CBD project saw the creation of 2176 jobs and 77 economic opportunities for Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs). 

Reflecting on this milestone and maiden student accommodation project by the department, Minister Simmers said: “Through this public and private partnership, we were able to find alternative financing modules. Individually none of us would have been able to build these facilities. This project has ensured that we provide students with a facility that assures their safety and well-being.”

“This facility will house over 2720 students. It will also be accessible to students who live within a 65 Kilometer radius of the Campus” added the Minister.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Government: Office of the Premier.