Sutherland reburial process and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

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

1. Update on the Sutherland reburial process

UCT will continue engagements with the relevant stakeholders ahead of the planned reburial of the nine sacred human remains in Sutherland.

The engagements are as a result of, among other things, feedback received in writing from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) on 12 August 2019. UCT had written to SAHRA formally applying for a reburial permit.

The next engagement will be a meeting with the Stuurman family from the Eastern Cape, which is scheduled to take place in October.

A number of recent engagements included a meeting with representatives of the Stuurman family from the Northern Cape and Western Cape on 21 August. The Eastern Cape representatives could not make it to this meeting.

A cultural and traditional exchange programme was held in Sutherland from 31 July to 2 August with participation by the family members; community leaders, including the local municipality; and both the primary and high schools. The exchange sessions were facilitated by Western Cape and Northern Cape traditional leaders.

In light of the broader engagements that are still ongoing, the university has reconsidered the reburial date, initially earmarked for 24 September 2019. The reburial will now take place at a later date, which is yet to be determined and which will be communicated in due course.

2. Inaugural lecture: Professor Collet Dandara

Professor Collet Dandara will present the fifth Vice-Chancellor’s Inaugural Lecture of the year on 25 September 2019. The lecture is titled “Pharmacogenomics and personalising medicines in African populations for quality health: Yet another story of playing catch-up”.

Please note that the lecture will take place at the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre in the Anatomy Building in the Faculty of Health Sciences, not Lecture Theatre 2 in the Kramer Law Building as previously stated. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• Read the VC Desk: Inaugural lecture: Professor Collet Dandara.
• RSVP for the lecture.

3. Distinguished Teacher Award nominations now open

The Distinguished Teacher Award is the highest accolade awarded to teaching staff at all levels within UCT. Through the award, the university recognises excellent teaching and acknowledges the primary place of teaching and learning in the institution’s work.

Students and academic staff members are invited to submit nominations. All academic staff who have taught at UCT for a minimum of five years are eligible for the award.

Please email nominations to distinguishedteacher@uct.ac.za before 10 November 2019.

• Read the DVC Desk: Distinguished Teacher Award nominations now open.

4. Update on the inclusivity survey

In May this year, the executive asked all UCT staff to take part in a completely anonymous InclusionIndex Inclusivity Survey. Since the conclusion of the survey, a team from Aephoria – the external administrator of the survey – has been hard at work analysing the quantitative data. Their initial findings indicate that the university is doing well in some areas and not as well in others.

These are initial results and need further interrogation to develop appropriate interventions. To explore themes more fully, UCT staff are invited to participate in focus groups and one-on-one interviews during the next few weeks. Attendance is completely voluntary, and anyone can attend – not only staff who completed the questionnaire.

If you would like to volunteer for the focus groups or the one-on-one interviews, please email Aephoria to arrange your participation. As with the quantitative survey, UCT staff will not be facilitating the focus groups or interviews.

• Read the DVC Desk: Update and next steps on the inclusivity survey.

5. Interim interdict against UAWU members

Last week there were various interruptions to university operations and student activities on the UCT campus. These interruptions were caused by University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) members who are not UCT employees. On Tuesday, 17 September 2019, the Labour Court granted an interim interdict against striking UAWU members.

Read the Campus Announcement: Interim interdict against UAWU members.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements