Load-shedding continuing and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform members of the University of Cape Town community about:

1. Load-shedding continuing

The implementation of stage 4 load-shedding continues to affect the UCT campuses. The university will regularly issue any necessary updates on the power outages via the UCT website. Please bookmark the page to follow any developments.

In order to save electricity, if you are the last person to leave a room, meeting room, toilet block or building, please ensure that all lights, air conditioners, fans and other appliances are switched off before you leave. This measure is especially important on the day before a public holiday or the weekend.

The most recent campus announcement included important information about the load-shedding areas in which UCT campuses and residences fall, venues and study hubs with full power back-up, a link to the City of Cape Town’s load-shedding schedule and tips on managing during power outages.

• Read the previous campus announcement.

2. Two Claremont incidents involving a UCT staff member and three students

A UCT staff member and three UCT students were involved in two unfortunate and separate incidents in the Claremont area on Friday, 15 March 2019.

The staff member was in an accident involving a Jammie Shuttle on the Friday morning. She was stabilised on the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital, where she is recovering and making notable progress. UCT continues to provide the necessary support for the staff member. She and her family have requested some privacy during this unfortunate period. The university is also providing support for the Jammie Shuttle driver, who was also taken to hospital.

The other incident, involving three UCT students, took place next to a Jammie Shuttle bus stop in Claremont on the Friday afternoon. The university has been given to understand that some scaffolding collapsed at an off-campus construction site and injured the students. The construction project is not linked to UCT. Two of the students sustained injuries that necessitated them being taken to hospital, while the third had only minor injuries. The university has support available for the affected students and will engage with the relevant authorities on the matter.

UCT encourages any member of the university community who may have been affected by either of these incidents to contact the relevant departments at the university for support.

Staff can contact the Organisational Health and Wellness office for counselling on 021 650 4376/5685 or email Blanche.Claasen-Hoskins@uct.ac.za or Susan.Williams@uct.ac.za or via the Independent Counselling and Advisory Service through either the toll-free number 0801 113 945 or by sending USSD code *134*905# to receive a callback.

Students can go to the Student Wellness Service (SWS) main clinic and be assisted without an appointment in an emergency situation. Students are also encouraged to contact the SWS on 021 650 1017 or book an appointment through the online booking system. The 24/7 South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) UCT Careline is also available to offer support to all students and staff members via the toll-free helpline on 0800 171 171 or by sending an SMS to 31393 for a callback.

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements