Potchefstroom University

Potchefstroom University   (University)
Formation	1869
Extinction	2004
The leadership of the university was part of the deep state Afrikaner Broederbond during the apartheid-era.

The Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (abbreviated PU for CHE) was a South African university located in Potchefstroom. Instruction was mainly in Afrikaans. In 2004, the university was merged with other institutions to create the North-West University.

History

Potchefstroom University developed out of the Theological School of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika in Afrikaans, abbreviated as GKSA), which was founded on 29 November 1869 in Burgersdorp, Cape Province. At the founding meeting, it was decided that education would also be offered to prospective teachers and to persons without any particular profession in mind.

The Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education was officially recognised as an independent university and was renamed the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1951.

Changes through the years

In 1993, Private Law status was established. In 1998, the statutes of the PUK were amended in order to enable her to better fulfill her role as part of the co-ordinated higher education system in South Africa according to her original mandate as an institution of Christian higher education. The Vaal Triangle Campus of the University was established in Vanderbijlpark in 1966 in order to provide that area with tertiary education. By 1996, the first online courses were offered. Students were offered interactive courses, the systematic application of multimedia. To facilitate the learning process, over 25 study centres were established country-wide. On 1 January 2000, the Potchefstroom Onderwyskollege was incorporated with the Potchefstroom University's Potchefstroom campus.

Chancellor

The leadership of the university was part of the deep state Afrikaner Broederbond during the apartheid-era.

Chancellor
Years	Surname	Name(s)	Date of Birth	Date of Death
1951–1953	du Toit	Jacob Daniel	21 February 1877	1 July 1953
1953–1954	van Rooy	Johannes Cornelis	9 July 1890	29 August 1954
1954–1961	du Toit	Francois Jacobus	25 August 1897	17 March 1961
1961–1979	de Klerk	Johannes	22 July 1903	24 January 1979
1980–1981	Vorster	Pieter Willem	16 September 1906	10 June 2001
1981–1991	Bingle	Hendrik Johannes Jacob	15 August 1910	29 June 2007
1992–1998	de Klerk	Frederik Willem	18 March 1936
1998–2004	Cronje	Daniel Christiaan	9 September 1946

Rector

Rector
Years	Surname	Name(s)	Date of Birth	Date of Death
1921–1950	Postma	Ferdinand	15 July 1879	4 November 1950
1950–1953	van Rooy	Johannes Cornelis	9 July 1890	29 August 1954
1953–1964	Coetzee	Johannes Christiaan	8 March 1893	6 December 1989
1964–1977	Bingle	Hendrik Johannes Jacob	15 August 1910	29 June 2007
1977–1988	van der Walt	Tjaart	15 February 1934
1988–2002	Reinecke	Carolus Johannes	21 December 1941
2002–2004	Eloff	Theuns	15 May 1955

 

An Alumnus on Wikispooks

Person	Born	Died	Nationality	Summary	Description
F. W. de Klerk	18 March 1936	11 November 2021	South Africa	Politician Lawyer	last state president of apartheid-era South Africa.

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