Party to the agreement were national Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, the Northern Cape Province's acting premier Grizelda Cjiekella, and the mayor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Agnes Ntlhangula.

[5] Launched in a ceremony in Kimberley on 19 September 2013,[6] it had been formally established as a public university in terms of Section 20 of the Higher Education Act of 1997, by way of Government Notice 630, dated 22 August 2013.

Previously announcing the name for the university, on 25 July 2013, President Jacob Zuma mentioned the development of academic niche areas that did not exist elsewhere, or were under-represented, in South Africa.

[5] It is anticipated that the Sol Plaatje University would occupy a combination of existing and purpose-built structures in the inner city of Kimberley,[5] specifically the present Civic Centre including parts of the Oppenheimer Gardens and surrounding buildings.

Provincial MEC Pauline Williams (Sport, Arts and Culture) has referred to the McGregor Museum in Kimberley becoming "a serious role-player" with its collections and research disciplines being key resources and "the nucleus of a future faculty.

This implies academic missions that would develop towards specialist niche areas not available elsewhere in South Africa, attracting and retaining skilled staff, while inspiring a vibrant student population.