Akademia campus to boost Pretoria East property development

The Akademia campus, a R3.2 billion Afrikaans higher education institution of the Solidarity movement, is being built east of Pretoria and is significantly boosting the local property market. Joop Coetzee, an experienced estate agent, notes that property values in the vicinity have surged, with vacant land now fetching R1 million per hectare, up from previous prices.

However, some sellers have unrealistic expectations, failing to consider that Akademia is constructing student residences and that property development is capital-intensive and time-consuming. The campus, expected to open in January 2028, will include residences for students and staff, sports facilities, lecture blocks, a student center, and administration offices.

A second phase will add more residences and facilities over the next few years. While the market is currently heated, experts believe it will create numerous opportunities for local businesses, including retail space, staff housing, and a potential hotel catering to campus visitors.