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Catering staff protest and other updates

10 May 2017 | Communication and Marketing Department
Campus announcement
 
10 May 2017

Dear students and colleagues

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

1. Catering staff protest

On Tuesday, 9 May, a group of about 60 people, including students and staff members, marched to the Bremner building to deliver a memorandum to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Daya Reddy on behalf of catering staff. Catering in residences was suspended and meal vouchers were issued to affected students as kitchen staff had left their posts. An agreement was made at that meeting that the executive would give feedback to the group today, 10 May 2017 at 13:00.

2. Crime trend points to need for renewed vigilance

On Friday, 5 May, a staff member was returning to her vehicle behind the Bremner building when she was approached by an unknown male who struck her over the head with a firearm and robbed her of her motor vehicle, laptop, keys, cash and bag. A case was opened with the SA Police Service (SAPS). The staff member was treated for her injury and is recovering. The vehicle has since been recovered and there is hope that SAPS will be able to make an arrest in this matter.

It is always a matter of concern when crime affects anyone on campus but the level of violence in this incident is deeply disturbing. Campus Protection Services (CPS) has advised that in the first five months of 2017, CPS has recorded 34 robbery incidents in and around UCT campuses, compared with 71 for the whole of 2016. The vast majority of these are off campus in different locations in the areas surrounding UCT. This increase is a worrying trend and CPS is working with the Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) and SAPS to understand the circumstances and to strengthen security measures. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest CPS officer. It is also a good idea to keep a record at home of the serial numbers of your laptop, cellphone and other electronic devices, as it will help SAPS to identify the owners of items that are recovered. SAPS may also ask for these numbers when opening a case. Please also remember there are emergency numbers printed on the back of your UCT card.

3. Call for nominations for the UCT Award for Collaborative Educational Practice 2017

This competitive award recognises excellent collaborative approaches to enhance the teaching and learning environment at UCT. No more than three awards of R37 500 per collaborative team are available. Project teams may nominate themselves or be nominated via colleagues, a head of department or Dean. A letter indicating an intention to nominate a team for this award or for the team to nominate itself must reach Cindy Gilbert by 26 May 2017. Nominations must be made by using the TGA1 form which contains the full set of criteria for the award. The completed form TGA01 must reach Cindy Gilbert by 29 June 2017. For any queries or further information she can be contacted on 021 650 5837.

4. Call for abstracts for TLC2017

Abstract submissions for this year's UCT Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC2017) are now open until 2 June 2017. TLC2017 will take place on 2 August. The theme, "Building Capacity for Change", will represent the most contemporary experiences, insights and research by UCT staff about changes in teaching and learning.

5. Revision of procedures for recruitment of permanent PASS positions

Flowing from the 2017 bargaining agreement between UCT and the UCT Employees Union (EU), and in the spirit of ensuring staff development, career succession and retention in a climate of austerity, new procedures have been agreed for the recruitment of all permanent professional and support staff (PASS) positions with immediate effect.

6. Thank you for helping UCT to save water

While Cape Town remains on level 3B water reserictions, the City of Cape Town is set to introduce level 4 water restrictions as water levels continue to drop to critical levels in the catchment areas that supply the city. Every possible effort should be made to save water on campus.

 

Communication and Marketing Department

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