4.1 Walter Sisulu University a) Background Dr S Matoti, Director, led the presentation which highlighted the following key issues: WSU was established on 01 July 2005 in terms of the Higher Education Act No. 101 of 1997, as amended. The new university was named in honour of an icon of the South African liberation struggle, the late Walter Sisulu. Between 2002 and 2005, the South African higher education landscape underwent an extensive merger and incorporation process to bring about a more equitable dispensation to meet the requirements of a fast-developing, new democratic nation. The existing 36 universities and technikons were merged in various ways to produce 23 universities divided into three categories: . Traditional academic universities, . Comprehensive Universities (which offered both academic and technological qualifications) and, . Universities of Technology.