Nota bene

Emergency Number ext 2222

Please be reminded that if you have an emergency on campus, the number for campus Protection Services is ext 2222.

In the event of a medical emergency, you can call this number and they will call an ambulance.

Discovery Health members also have the option of calling the Smarthealth choice number, which is 0860 347 2683.

This is a health emergency line that offers several options ranging from calling an ambulance to roadside assistance and answering specific medical questions. The ambulance that is called from this line is not contracted to any provider and will be the nearest available ambulance to the scene. This is a 24-hour line and the number is also on your Discovery Health membership card.

UCT renews service contracts

Council has agreed to extend several contracts that were due to lapse with companies providing outsourced work to UCT.

These contracts will be renegotiated and extended for a period of at least three years and will run concurrently with the implementation of a code of conduct and a minimum wage based on the Supplemented Living Level (SLL), calculated by the Bureau of Market Research at the University of South africa. The SLL is to be phased in over a three-year period, commencing in 2006 at 80% of the SLL and rising to 100% of the SLL in 2008.

The companies that will have their contracts renewed are Metro and Supercare for cleansing services, G4 for security, Turfmech for grounds and Green Perspective for gardening.

Other contractors providing services to UCT, namely Royal Sechaba (catering), Sibanye (transport), and UDMS (photocopying and printing) are not up for renewal at this stage. These companies will, however, also be required to implement the code of conduct and SLL-based wages as from January 2006.

Executive director John Critien said council's decision was aimed at giving the employees of these companies the reassurance that their immediate future at UCT was not at risk and to enable the companies to conduct planning.

Council agreed that the extensions and renewals should be communicated as widely as possible.