Commonly known as Turfloop, UL made history as the first South African university to establish a medical school after the advent of democracy, later producing the country’s youngest medical doctor. The institution also launched a cathode materials centre—the first pilot plant in South Africa focused on manganese beneficiation—representing a R30 million investment aimed at unlocking the value of the nation’s vast manganese reserves. With South Africa holding about 80% of the world’s high-grade manganese ore, this resource presents significant opportunities for local mineral beneficiation and energy storage innovation.