Frankenwald Estate

The Frankenwald estate is a 290 hectare site located in South Africa between Alexandra, Marlboro and Kelvin.[1] The estate was bequeathed by Alfred Beit in 1905 as deed of gift[2] to the former Colony of Transvaal on condition that it was “solely and only” used for educational and scientific purposes.[3] The farm was donated with the purpose of establishing a Transvaal University.[4] This land was transferred to Wits in 1987.[5] In 2000, the Maharishi religious order offered to purchase and build a 108 story building on the estate,[6] promising accommodation for 50,000 people and to provide 15,000 jobs,[7] but the deal was not concluded. On 8 September 2024, Wits University announced the transfer of the Frankenwald Estate to the Bankenveld District City Development Company.[8] Critics believe that this action betrays Beit’s deed of gift and deprives surrounding communities of access to educational facilities.[9] The special endowment fund will be created from the sale and used to support Wits academic projects.[10]

References

  1. ^ Cox, Anna (2017-05-31). "City, Wits and Alex residents locked in land dispute". IOL. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  2. ^ "Wits embroiled in land dispute - The Mail & Guardian". The Mail & Guardian. 2011-03-18. Archived from the original on 2021-07-11. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  3. ^ amaBhungane (2011-03-18). "Wits embroiled in land dispute". AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  4. ^ Strydom, B.L. (2016) To Buttress the Ideal of National Unity’: Broad South Africanism and Higher Education in the Early Twentieth Century South African Historical Journal 68(2):163-179 DOI:10.1080/02582473.2016.1163412
  5. ^ Ntsaluba, Gcina (2019-05-04). "Wits, residents clash over land... a gift 115 years ago". The Citizen. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  6. ^ https://www.news24.com/jhb-to-get-108-storey-building-20000803
  7. ^ https://www.news24.com/jhb-to-get-108-storey-building-20000803
  8. ^ "2024-09 - Talented Wits students to benefit from land development - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  9. ^ amaBhungane (2011-03-18). "Wits embroiled in land dispute". AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  10. ^ https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/wits-to-use-frankenwald-sale-proceeds-for-special-endowment-fund-2024-09-19


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