Dear Professor Phakeng,
I was extremely sad to hear of the recent fire in the Jagger Library and the immense damage and disruption to the University.
As one of the four external members of the Council of the University of Oxford, I am very aware of the central role that such libraries play in a leading teaching and research University. Likewise as co-owner of Klein Constantia Winery and a very regular visitor to Cape Town, I fully understand the importance of the University of Cape Town and its collections to South Africa.
If there is any way that I can help, particularly as you start thinking about the rebuilding that will now be required, I would be pleased to offer my services to you and to get involved. This is such an important task and it would be a privilege to support it.
Very best wishes,
Charles Harman
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The Centre for Curating the Archive, in association with Michaelis Galleries (UCT) and UCT Libraries will stage a memorial exhibition marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic Jagger Library fire at the Michaelis Galleries. The exhibition will open to the public on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.
In an email to UCT students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“Thank you for your patience as we seek ways to return to full academic activity at the University of Cape Town under COVID-19 regulations. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone who needs to return to campus buildings.”
UCT is deeply grateful to all the donors who supplied food and other essential items for our students, and to everyone who has so generously offered other forms of support and assistance.
Everyone who would like to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund is urged to please make financial donations to UCT through the UCT Alumni Ways to Give web page.
Donations can also be made by EFT using the details below:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Please include your donor name if you so wish, as well as the reference for your donation, e.g. Name Surname, #UCTFire.