Innovation is everywhere within UJ’s new rescue simulation centre that will equip responders with the skills needed to act in all kinds of emergencies.
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 October 2025) – Thanks to a new facility at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa’s emergency responder students are now able to train for critical scenarios through different simulated experiences.
UJ has just opened Africa’s very first Advanced Rescue Simulation Centre at its Doornfontein Campus. The four-storey building is designed to give rescuers the closest thing possible to real-life disaster training without any actual danger involved.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi says the centre makes world-class training that responders once had to travel for, available locally.
“With this state-of-the-art Rescue Simulation Centre, we are redefining how emergency response training is delivered on the continent. There is no longer a need to travel abroad for world-class rescue training. It is right here at UJ,” says Mpedi.
The facility, a first of its kind in Africa, simulates different emergency scenarios through multiple features.
There’s a survival pool where students can practice aquatic and helicopter underwater egress training. A full helicopter simulator for hoisting operations. A basement with narrow tunnels and heavy lifting rigs where teams can train for urban search and rescue. There is also a 30-seater aircraft fuselage for mass casualty simulations and a trench rescue setup that can simulate rain, wind, waves and total darkness.
Every corner has been innovatively designed to mimic what rescuers face in the real world. Emergencies don’t give warnings, and they’re growing more complex by the day. Being able to practice under pressure could mean the difference between panic and effectively saving a life.
“This project is about accessibility, quality, and national impact,” says Prof Mpedi. “We are creating opportunities for students, professionals, and industries to gain world-class training locally, while building the capacity South Africa and the broader continent to respond effectively to future emergencies.”
Connor Hartnady, a lecturer in UJ’s Department of Emergency Medical Care and a seasoned responder himself, says that the facility arrives at a time when concentrated training efforts are needed.
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“This facility equips teams with the resources and practical experience they need to respond effectively, save lives, and manage risk,” he says, adding: “Natural hazards are increasing, urbanisation is evolving rapidly, and emergencies are becoming more complex. This Centre prepares responders not only for South African conditions but for challenges across the continent.”
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala, who attended the centre’s launch, says that the facility is a great step towards safety in SA as global and environmental changes ramp up.
“UJ’s Rescue Centre responds to the urgent need for environmental protection, emergency preparedness, and sustainable economic development. Through education, training, and research, it will expand South Africa’s emergency response capacity, strengthen collaboration between institutions, and enhance regional leadership in rescue operations,” he says.
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