This was the message shared by University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi at the newly opened UJ Devland Campus in Soweto.

Prof Mpedi was addressing community members who had gathered at the campus to witness a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between Ward Councillor Budget Makaula (on behalf of the community) and the University on Thursday, 18 September 2025.

“We must ensure that all we do has a positive impact on society. As universities we are rich in intellectual capital and that knowledge must be brought to the communities so we can grow as a nation,” said Prof Mpedi.

The UJ Devland Campus is a state of the art facility that houses teaching spaces, including computer labs and a lecture hall. Other facilities include open-plan work areas, a canteen, ablutions as well as storerooms and administrative offices and a banquet hall. The site’s outdoor spaces offer outdoor seating, an amphitheatre, a guardhouse, parking, and a refuse building.

Prof Mpedi asked the community to protect the facility as it would be a benefit to future generations as well.

“We want the children to also be exposed to this facility and benefit from the knowledge and skills provided by the University. They should not be deprived of the opportunity. Let us hold hands and work together, step by step we can build and grow.”

Councillor Makaula encouraged the community members and reiterated the words of the Vice-Chancellor.

“This will benefit us as a community and we need to protect it. We want to thank UJ for the facility and the employment opportunities it will create for community members.”

UJ Chief Operations Officer Dr Mpoti Ralephata added that UJ was focused on making a positive impact in society.

“This facility was built, through the support of donors, with the idea that institutions of higher learning and communities can have spaces to share for the benefit of all.”

The Campus, a long term project, highlights the University’s commitment to collaboration.

“We want to work with the communities that we are a part of. This MoU says that we acknowledge that we are in Devland. The community has access to this facility and the University will use the facility for research purposes. We look forward to the different faculties who will be reaching out to the community, through this facility, to bring services that can better the community.”

He emphasised that there were no universities without communities.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi congratulated UJ on a job well done and highlighted the opportunities the facility presented to the community of Devland.

“As the Gauteng government we are going to approach institutions of higher learning and schools to say we should maximise the utilisation of these kinds of facilities in a way that will allow the communities to benefit from them.”

Premier Lesufi said the Gauteng government was seeking to find employment for 45 000 people.

“We want to train them to be in a position to deal with the social infrastructure challenges we are dealing with. When schools and facilities such as these knock off, the unemployed should be able to use these facilities to receive much needed skills training. We want the communities to be able to fix Gauteng outside of tenders.” He added that the future of defeating unemployment was through training and skills building.

The UJ Devland Campus underscores the University’s values of societal impact, inclusivity, innovation and integrity. It stands as a testament to collaborative progress, positioning UJ at the forefront of shaping a more equitable and prosperous future in line with its vision of inspiring communities to transform the world.