Dear colleagues
On behalf of the UCT executive, I would like to thank all the staff members who joined us for the special online assembly yesterday morning. I was delighted to hear that over 3 000 of you participated in the session. I would also like to thank my fellow executive members for providing updates from their various portfolios.
If you were unable to join the online event, you can view or download the recordings (which are zero-rated, excluding MTN users[1]):
Staff members were understandably engaged with the discussions, asking pertinent human resource-related questions, raising queries about support for staff during this unusual period, and enquiring about the financial implications of the coronavirus lockdown.
I trust that the executive and I managed to allay any fears and respond adequately to any concerns that you may have had. As I mentioned in my presentation, while finances are a challenge in all sectors and industries, both in our country and globally, the executive has committed to keep paying the salaries of current staff in 2020 whether they work remotely or on campus.
The coronavirus pandemic has provided an opportunity for us as an institution to see how we can work differently. While it has become clear that we can still be productive without being in a physical work or office space, it has also become evident that certain work is incredibly difficult to do off site. Beyond COVID-19, and that time will come, we need to ask ourselves what role remote working will play in our lives. We continue working hard on planning a phased return to campus, and those required to return to campus will, of course, have to adhere to strict social distancing and related regulations.
We fully recognise the complexities that you have been dealing with during this time, so I appeal to you to care for one another, and for all of you to practice empathy and understanding when engaging with each other.
I also encourage all of you who are able, to give to the COVID-19 UCT Emergency Fund, no matter how small the amount. Every little bit counts.
Thank you again for joining the assembly yesterday. We would really appreciate hearing back from you, so please take the time to complete a short survey on the session.
I hope that you will take part in similar online meetings in the future – it’s essential to keep lines of communication open during these uncertain times.
Please continue to stay safe, wear your masks when out in public and take time to rest.
Sincerely
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor
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COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.
Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.
On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.
With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi PhakengWith the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.
If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.
IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.