Access and parking restrictions and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

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

1. Parking and access restrictions on campus

Staff and students are notified that access to and parking on campus will be restricted from 13-16 March due to two different events.

The Absa Cape Epic cycle race prologue will take place at UCT on Sunday, 15 March 2020, and will affect access to campuses from Friday, 13 March to Sunday, 15 March. Madiba East (Rugby Road) will be closed from 18:00 on 13 March, to 22:00 on 15 March.

Registration will take place on upper campus at the Sports Centre on 14 March, but the campus will remain open. Parking areas that will be affected on the weekend include P1, P4, P5 and P6 on upper campus, and P1 and P2 on middle campus. All other parking areas will be open. While vehicles will have access to available parking areas on upper campus, it will be intermittently closed on race day between 06:00 and 18:00.

On Monday, 16 March 2020 UCT will host the new chancellor’s installation ceremony in the Sarah Baartman Hall. Due to this event, there will be a number of visitors on campus and parking on upper campus will be affected. Affected areas include University Avenue North and Library Road.

Staff and students who usually use these parking areas are kindly asked to please either look for alternative parking, consider carpooling or use alternative transport. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

2. COVID-19 update

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a growing concern all over the world. The UCT executive urges all students and staff to remain calm and continue to practise infection prevention control measures.

The university has established the UCT business continuity management coordinating committee – the COVID-19 Coordinating Committee (CCC) – which is responsible for responding to the outbreak. The committee is tasked with continued close monitoring of any developments around COVID-19 and is working in partnership with the relevant stakeholders. The committee will update the UCT community regularly. The university has created a feature page providing updates and useful information on COVID-19 and UCT’s response.

• See the COVID-19 feature page.

3. Graduation ceremonies

The autumn graduation ceremonies will take place from Thursday, 19 March to Saturday, 28 March. During this period, the university will recognise hundreds of students who have toiled to complete their degrees across our six faculties. It is also a tradition for the university to pay homage to individuals who have contributed immensely to the development of society at large. This year, UCT will bestow an honorary doctorate to renowned Cape Town ballet master, Johaar Mosaval. He will be awarded the Doctor of Music (honoris causa) degree.

• Read the VC Desk: Honorary doctorate for renowned ballet master.

4. Update on the sexual offences ad hoc tribunal

UCT launched the sexual offences ad hoc tribunal (AHT) in September 2019 while developing a more permanent and formal specialised structure to deal with sexual offences. The AHT was put in place to expedite sexual offences and to deal with the backlog of cases.

Since beginning its work, the AHT has considered two categories of cases: 36 that were inherited from the Legal Services Office, and a further 32 that were reported since it came into effect. Of the 36 backlogged cases, 20 have been finalised and are off the tribunal court roll. The rest are ready to proceed to trial. Of the 32 cases that were reported post the establishment of the AHT, 11 are trial ready (pre-hearings have been concluded).

• Read the DVC Desk: Update on the sexual offences ad hoc tribunal.

5. UCT News February

The February edition of the monthly UCT News newsletter is now available, covering our new chancellor’s first official engagement, the late president Nelson Mandela’s accidental visit to UCT when he was released from prison, and the essential role played by the humble sand prawn in filtering coastal water, among many others.

A curated collection of the best articles published on the UCT News site each month, the UCT News newsletter highlights the many facets of the university. Covering research, teaching and learning, transformation, social responsiveness, campus events and student life, UCT News is an instant portal into the stories that make the university both what it is and what it is becoming.

• Read the February edition of UCT News.

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements