Cape Town marathon road closures and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

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

1. Sanlam Cape Town Marathon road closures

Due to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on Sunday, 15 September, there will be several road closures in areas surrounding the university. These roads include Main, Campground, Sandown, Park, Milner, Klipfontein, Liesbeek and others.

• Read the full list of road closures and alternative routes.
• Read the press release about road closures.

2. ICTS scheduled maintenance

Please note that there will be an Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) scheduled maintenance slot from 08:00 until 17:00 on Sunday, 15 September. Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot.

Please remember to consult the list of scheduled ICTS maintenance slots for 2019 before planning any teaching activities, conferences, meetings, etc that require ICT services.

• View the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots for 2019.

3. Be vigilant against phishing and other threats

Technology – and the Internet in particular – has indelibly changed our lives in many positive ways. But it’s also given rise to a cybercrime explosion, both on a personal level (eg identity theft, fraud and unauthorised bank transactions) and an institutional level. At UCT, compromised login credentials can open us up to major risks, such as cybercriminals accessing research material and departmental information, committing fraudulent financial transactions using UCT funds, compromising examinations and associated marks, and more. According to UCT's Computer Security Incident Response Team, such attacks are common. The team regularly receives requests for assistance linked to compromised passwords, identity theft and their consequences. While UCT has a number of security measures in place, the onus remains on each of us to protect our login credentials and ensure they do not end up in the wrong hands. Cybercriminals often use phishing to try to get those credentials. To help you avoid becoming a victim of this, check out our easy-to-read phishing guide, which includes signs of a phishing attempt, what UCT can and cannot protect you from, and what to do if you fall prey to cybercriminals.

• Read about how to spot a phishing email.

4. UCT Ombud’s Annual Report

The UCT Ombud’s Annual Report 2018 is available in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The report is a synopsis of the activities of the Office of the Ombud within the reporting period and allows the Ombud to share her observations and commentary on some of the matters that have arisen.

5. Works of Art Committee presents Rethinking Art at UCT

Sarah Baartman Hall will come alive with performances and talks on Thursday, 19 September 2019, 12:45 to 14:00. Choreographers, dancers, performers and students will form part of an event presented by the UCT Works of Art Committee (WOAC). This committee has been tasked with transforming the presentation and collection of art at UCT to more aptly represent and address current contexts.

The call for a gathering will be led by the Abengcongolo Collective, directed by Mandla Mbothwe, who will guide audiences through the Uhlambululo processional ritual. In the hall itself, vivid and evocative performances will celebrate the right to claim space and place. Works include a dance choreographed by dance lecturer Maxwell Rani. Aptly for Heritage Month, a series of performances by UCT’s young choreographers will further ask us to reconsider not only our history, but also how we are constructing our future heritage. Dr Nomusa Makhubu will introduce newly acquired artworks for the UCT collection, while WOAC chair Associate Professor Jay Pather will reveal the newly curated spaces in a visual presentation. Gillian Cox will officially open the Molly Blackburn Hall.

Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information please contact Nadja Daehnke via email at nadja.daehnke@uct.ac.za.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements