chemical-technical and mining engineering, and the existing Department of Agricultural Engineering would be the seventh. In the beginning of 1956, lectures in the faculty officially began and the Principal, Prof CH Rautenbach, addressed the first group of 64 engineering students. This first intake was restricted to registration in Mechanical, Civil and Electro-technical Engineering only. The first Dean of the Faculty was Prof C A du Toit who also acted as Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Prof D J de Vos was appointed as Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Prof F G Heymann as Head of the Department of Electro-technical Engineering. In 1959 the first students in Chemical, Metallurgical and Industrial Engineering were admitted. Prof DJ Schoeman was appointed as Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Prof G T van Rooyen as Head of the Department of Metallurgical Engineering. Industrial Engineering was incorporated as a subdivision of Mechanical Engineering. During later years Mining, Electronic and Computer Engineering were introduced. The total student registration number increased from the original 64 in 1956 to 469 at the beginning of 1959 to almost 8 290 students in 2015.
The first sections of the Engineering Building (now known as Engineering 2) were completed in April 1957. Prior to this date lecturing and laboratory facilities from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science were utilised. During 1958 the Heavy Machines Laboratories were completed, followed by completion of the remainder of the Engineering Building in 1960. During subsequent years steady growth was experienced and numerous additions of new buildings for the housing of state-of-the art laboratories, lecture halls, offices, etc. were completed. These later expansions will be mentioned in more detail in the subsequent section of this publication. Through this publication the Faculty acknowledges the vision, wisdom and efforts of many who made truly magnificent contributions to the 60 years of development in engineering education at Tuks. The contributions of leaders, academic and support staff, alumni, donors, industry and government are reflected in the achievements of the Faculty and enable it to continue making a distinct contribution to the development of our country and to the realisation of the aspirations of all South Africans.
Previous Deans
Prof CA Du Toit (1956 - 1975)
Prof Dawie Schoeman (1976 - 1986)
Prof Louis van Biljon (1987 - 1988)
Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria
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