Students' needs catered for in world cup accommodation plan

In line with UCT's annual practice, students will vacate the residences during the semester break, and approximately two-thirds of residence accommodation will be available for world cup visitors,. But other residences will accommodate students with academic commitments over that period.

Students in exceptional circumstances, who cannot return home due to circumstances beyond their control, should contact the vacation accommodation office.

At the request of local government and the tourism industry, UCT and other universities will make residences available for visitors to the soccer world cup, which kicks off in less than 50 days. The UCT Council agreed to do so only after extensive discussions and consultation with a range of UCT stakeholders, including the 2009 Students' Representative Council.

In making this decision, UCT considered the lasting legacies that could be catalysed by this initiative; in particular, the opportunity to improve and upgrade UCT's vacation accommodation infrastructure, which has the potential to grow into a much-needed source of revenue for the university. Profit from Campus Accommodation (CA) 2010, for instance, may be used to upgrade residences, for general improvements to the campuses, and for increasing student financial support funds.

Emeritus Professor John Simpson heads CA 2010 and has assembled a task team of experts in the hospitality industry. In the process, UCT has become an official member of Cape Town Tourism, strengthening relationships with the City of Cape Town and Western Cape local government. It is expected that the university's international profile will benefit enormously from CA 2010's worldwide media exposure.

UCT is making up to 3 000 rooms available to visitors from 6 June to 9 July 2010. The average rate per person sharing is R370.50. Most visitors are expected to stay in the middle campus residences and in Woolsack, Smuts and Fuller. The CA 2010 package includes transportation to the games, as well as translation services offered by student volunteers. Campus tours will be offered by the Visitors Centre.

Although not all CA 2010 accommodation is rented out yet, UCT anticipates a high take-up rate.