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During his budget debate, President Jacob Zuma once again promised universities for the provinces of Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. The President stated:

"Work towards the establishment of universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape will continue this financial year, in order to further expand access to higher education."

Pouring over the budget for 2010/11 and projections for the next five years, the Democratic Alliance found no provision for new universities.

The promise for new universities was made as a pre-election vote -getting exercise in 2009. Since then, Higher Education & Training Minister Blade Nzimande made a more modest proposal to upgrade the institutes of education located in Nelspruit and Kimberley.

Upgraded institutes of education are not universities. President Zuma should learn from Napoleon who once said that ‘the best way to keep one's word is not to give it.'

Unless of course he can pull a rabbit out of a hat. In the meanwhile Nzimande has to lower expectations - again.