Dear colleagues and students
While the country has moved to lockdown alert Level 1 and many restrictions have been eased, we still need to adopt a very cautious approach to any situations that could increase the risk of spreading the virus.
As a university, we have to take a circumspect and responsible approach to ensure that health risks are mitigated. We have taken the very difficult decision to host the December 2020 graduation ceremonies online. This is a decision we did not take lightly. Not only do we need to think of the health and safety of our community, but we also face a particularly unpredictable situation over which we have limited control where plans may need to change at short notice as the environment changes. We know that our students come from across South Africa and beyond our borders and do not want them and their loved ones to make plans and incur costs to attend graduation and then have to cancel due to a change in the situation in South Africa or internationally.
Graduations are celebratory occasions where families come together to rejoice in the success of their loved ones. They are occasions we all look forward to and want to be part of. However, these are large groups of people, far in excess of what is permissible under alert Level 1 regulations: a limit of 250 persons for an indoor event, and a limit of 500 persons for an outdoor event.
Graduation is a very important milestone after years of hard work that were put in to get to this point. Some of our graduating students may even be the first to graduate in their family. We share fully the sadness of our students not being able to walk the stage to the joyful cheers of family and friends. But at this point, during this global pandemic and the unpredictable nature thereof and to ensure the safety of everyone, it will be too risky and thus not feasible to host an in-person event.
This does not mean that our students cannot celebrate with those closest to them wherever they may be. I encourage students to celebrate in their own way safely at home and to share these moments with us.
To the affected students, we will share details of the virtual events shortly so that you and your loved ones can find a way to be part of this special moment. The details will relate to arrangements for:
Thank you for your understanding and for the precautions we are all taking at this time to limit the spread of the virus. As a university we must never forget the human toll the virus is taking on the UCT community and our society. We need to find a way to acknowledge those we have lost, to honour their lives and what they mean to us, and to help teach future generations about this chapter in our history. But future generations should also learn how this tragedy brought out the best in us: the bonds of solidarity that we forged, the compassion we displayed, the humanity we extended to all and the sacrifices that we have all made.
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.