Africa Month webinars and other updates

Dear colleagues

This campus announcement aims to inform the UCT community about recent developments on campus.

1. Invitation to join important Africa Day webinars

In commemorating Africa Month, the African Union’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), in collaboration with UCT Convocation and the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance will host a three-day Africa Month public symposium under the theme “Africa’s innovations in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”. From Wednesday, 27 May to Friday, 29 May 2020, five webinars will discuss – among others – knowledge systems and knowledge production on the continent, best practice examples in Africa, the climate change and development nexus in Africa, Pan-African reflections on leadership and good governance during COVID-19, and COVID-19 philanthropy on the continent.

• Please RSVP to attend these webinars.
• Read the VC Desk: Please join these important Africa Day webinars.

2. Staff assembly videos

In a special online staff assembly hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng on Thursday 14 May, the UCT executive addressed staff on the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Watch the full video recording of the assembly.

Professor Phakeng commended staff members for their hard work and commitment, through which a new kind of UCT is emerging from this pandemic. Chief Operating Officer, Dr Reno Morar spoke on the planning for a phased return of staff, the risks and mitigation strategy, and human resources and financial issues.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) for Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor Lis Lange provided an update on the academic project. DVC for Transformation, Professor Loretta Feris spoke on student support and particularly the management of the phased return of students, and the reopening of residences; while DVC for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Sue Harrison, reflected on research and postgraduate issues.

The Registrar, Royston Pillay addressed issues relating to governance, 2020 exams and 2021 admissions; and the Executive Director: Finance, Ashley Francis discussed the university’s financial state and sustainability.

• Watch the videos by each of the members of the executive.

3. Election of a PASS staff Council member

As advised previously, the election to Council of a member of the professional, administrative support and service (PASS) staff in payclasses 7-13 was suspended. This followed the discovery of an inadvertent omission of staff members in the payclass 13 (4 and 5) cohort from the initial call for nominations.

Notwithstanding the suspension of the process, nominations that had been received up to that point remained valid. No additional nominations from members of the payclass 13 staff were received in response to an invitation to do so by the deadline of 13 May 2020. Members of the PASS staff in payclasses 7-13 are invited to elect one of the three candidates whose nomination had been previously submitted. 

Please log into Vula with your UCT user credentials and select the “COUNCIL: PASS Election” tab. The candidates’ statements of intent and abbreviated CVs are available on the “Resources” page of the site. Vote for the candidate of your choice by clicking on the question on the “Poll” page.

Voting is now open and will close at 16:00 on Friday, 22 May 2020.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements