Black varsities get R30m boost in research funds

Historically disadvantaged universities have received a R30-million boost to research topics such as indigenous medicinal plants and childhood mortality in Limpopo.

The SA Medical Research Council announced the research capacity development initiative yesterday.

The council's president, Glenda Gray, said: "After visiting Fort Hare University and Walter Sisulu University, I realised the incredible capacity and [saw] research ideas that were going to percolate."

The R30-million will be divided among the aforementioned universities as well as the University of Venda, University of Limpopo, and the University of Zululand over the course of five years.

The council's vice-president Jeffrey Mphahlele said: "We need to have a national footprint because we are a public entity."

He added that the R30-million was "just a start".