St Augustine College of South Africa 2024-2025

St Augustine College of South Africa 2024-2025

The idea to establish a Catholic university in the nation was originally floated soon after the formal foundation of the Catholic Hierarchy in South Africa in 1951. A discussion group started taking the issue seriously in 1993. The group’s leader, Professor Emmanuel NGARA, and later, Fr. Buti TLHAGALE OMI of the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), published a report in 1994 in favor of the creation of a Catholic university. Three goals were pursued: to provide a values-based education with a solid ethical foundation; to influence how Catholics and other Christians behave in contemporary society; and to inspire Catholic intellectuals to contribute to the Church’s efforts to strengthen its commitment to the mission of evangelization and renewal.

On February 18, 1997, the Rt Rev Reginald ORSMOND, then the Bishop of Johannesburg, established “The Catholic University of Southern Africa Trust” (later renamed the “St Augustine College of South Africa Trust”). A Section 21 Company (Company Registration No. 1997/020522/08) was set up in November 1997 to provide higher education in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Both “Not-for-Profit” and “Public Benefit” status were awarded to the company (NPO: 043-665; PBO 130001525).

The name “St Augustine” was chosen for the proposed institution as a deliberate reference to the African environment, as St. Augustine of Hippo was among the first and most influential Christian thinkers to emerge from the continent.