Campus announcements
UCT framework for returning to campus and other updates
03 June 2020 | Campus AnnouncementDear students and colleagues
This campus announcement aims to inform the UCT community about recent developments on campus.
1. Framework for returning to campus
The university is developing a framework for the safe return of staff and students in a coordinated and phased manner, in line with the guidelines provided by the government. This framework is based on the university’s commitment to protect the health and safety of all staff and students.
2. Students to receive 100% rebate for dropped courses
The UCT Council has decided that students who drop courses by Friday, 5 June 2020, will receive a 100% fee rebate. This means that if students are thinking about dropping a course to ensure they have a manageable workload (after consultation with their course convenors) they can make that decision without having to take into account any financial constraints.
3. Phishing attacks at UCT
UCT is a prime target of numerous types of phishing attacks. Some UCT staff have fallen victim to these attacks and incurred financial loss, with the most recent being in May 2020. The UCT Computer Security Incident Response Team reminds the campus community of the risks associated with responding to phishing emails and how to spot them.
Phishing attacks are a reality, and everyone needs to play their role in ensuring that UCT’s network – including its digital resources as well as staff and students’ personal information – remains protected, as these are of great value to cybercriminals. The UCT network is only as secure as those who access it.
- Read about the latest phishing attacks at UCT.
- Learn about how to spot a phishing attempt.
- Learn about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself.
4. Africa Month symposium
Last week UCT celebrated Africa Month through a virtual symposium themed “Africa’s innovations in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”. A series of webinars discussed a range of topics towards the formulation of policy recommendations. Video recordings of the five webinars are now available on the UCT website.
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UCT’s response to COVID-19
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.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.
Campus communications
2022
UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre
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.
Frequently asked questions
Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?
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.