Emeris Expands KwaZulu-Natal Footprint with New Umhlanga Campus
Emeris Expands KwaZulu-Natal Footprint with New Umhlanga Campus. Emeris has announced plans to expand its presence in KwaZulu-Natal with the development of a 10-hectare purpose-built campus in Umhlanga, designed to accommodate more than 10,000 students. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the first cohort of students expected to be welcomed by 2029.
The project will be delivered in phases, with the initial stage set to host approximately 8,000 students across three academic buildings. These facilities will include advanced laboratories and learning environments tailored to emerging industry needs. Specialized infrastructure will be developed for civil, electronic, mechanical, and mechatronics engineering, alongside computer science and robotics laboratories.
Beyond academics, the campus will feature extensive lifestyle and sporting facilities. Plans include a covered tier-one sports centre with a gymnasium designed to SuperSport broadcasting specifications, two rugby fields with seating and lighting built to Varsity Cup standards, a hockey astro with a dedicated warm-up area, and a 500-bed student residence.
Later phases of development will expand capacity to more than 10,500 students, with additional residential and academic infrastructure. Planning and environmental processes are currently underway, with further details on academic offerings and admissions timelines to be announced as the project progresses.
Emeris Managing Director Louise Wiseman said the investment reflects both regional opportunity and learner demand. “KwaZulu-Natal is a vibrant economic hub with significant potential for educational growth and skills development,” she noted.
Located in the rapidly developing Durban/Umhlanga corridor, the site was chosen for its accessibility and proximity to major business and economic nodes. The region’s growth has contributed to rising demand for higher education opportunities, aligning with national objectives to expand tertiary education capacity and strengthen skills development in sectors critical to economic growth.
Emeris Executive for Institutional Advancement, Simon Nicolson, emphasized the broader impact of the project. “A development of this scale represents a significant investment in the province. With thousands of students and hundreds of staff expected on campus, it will greatly contribute to local economic activity and play a central role in supporting businesses in the surrounding community,” he said.
