UCT's first response to the current crisis

Following the spread of xenophobic violence to the Western Cape, and specifically Cape Town, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Njabulo S. Ndebele, on Friday 23 May established a Crisis Response Task Team to coordinate and lead the University of Cape Town's response.

Professor Ndebele appointed two Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Professors Martin Hall and Thandabantu Nhlapo to convene the task team and the subsequent necessary meetings and interactions for a comprehensive approach to the crisis. Reporting daily to the Vice-Chancellor, the brief was to ensure that UCT's approach makes a distinct impact now and into the future as part of the existing Respect campaign.

This report summarises UCT's "first response" to the current crisis between Friday, 23 May and Friday, 30 May. The report deals with activities related to departments and groups involved in rendering assistance during the crisis, in various ways.

In essence, UCT's focus was on three areas of support: providing supplies, assisting with support for refugees at holding sites, and providing health support.