In 2014, South Africa had 23 universities (including universities of technology). However, none of these was located in either Mpumalanga or the Northern Cape, making these the only provinces in the country that were not home to a university. The University of Mpumalanga was established.
It incorporates the infrastructure of three existing institutions – the Lowveld College of Agriculture, the hospitality school at KaNyamazane and the Siyabuswa Education Campus (near Marble Hall). It currently offers the Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Agriculture degrees, as well as a Diploma in Hospitality Management. The interim Council Head is Dr. Ramaranka A Mogotlane, FRCP (Glas), FRCS (Edin), previously Head of the Department of Anatomy at both the University of Natal and MEDUNSA.