Campus communications University of Cape Town
Campus updates

UCT’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.

In July 2022, the University of Cape Town (UCT) revised its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses in 2022.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.

 

Campus communications

 
2022

Examination period planning and logistics 12:55, 25 October 2022
UCT’s current Teaching and Learning Framework 15:15, 27 July 2022
Closure of UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre 11:00, 27 July 2022
Managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses 2022 12:00, 25 July 2022
Student session on repealed COVID-19 regulations 10:00, 25 July 2022
Adjusting to new environment and other updates 16:50, 29 June 2022
Staff engagement on COVID-19 and other updates 16:46, 29 June 2022
Staff engagement on repealed COVID-19 regulations 11:15, 29 June 2022
Adjusting to our new environment 16:50, 23 June 2022
Complete the 2022 UCT Student Experience Survey 14:00, 20 June 2022
VC’s public lecture at Ottawa and other updates 18:18, 6 June 2022
VC’s public lecture at Ottawa and other updates 18:14, 6 June 2022
COVID-19 Vaccine Status Declaration 15:00, 3 June 2022
Student support services available through SWS 14:28, 18 May 2022
UCT’s approach to COVID-19 and other updates 15:27, 3 May 2022
Changes to UCT’s approach to COVID-19 12:15, 26 April 2022
VC Open Lecture and other updates 17:04, 13 April 2022
Feedback from UCT Council meeting of 12 March 2022 09:45, 18 March 2022
UCT Council
March 2022 graduation and other updates 14:27, 9 March 2022
March 2022 graduation celebration 16:45, 8 March 2022
Launch of Phambili programme and other updates 09:10, 4 March 2022
Report on the meeting of UCT Council of 21 February 2022 19:30, 21 February 2022
UCT Council
COVID-19 management 2022 11:55, 14 February 2022
Resuming the 2022 teaching year under carefully controlled measures 18:35, 9 February 2022
Resuming teaching under carefully controlled measures 18:20, 9 February 2022
Draft Vaccine Mandate Policy stakeholder engagements and other updates 16:58, 9 February 2022
Plans and resources for postgraduate students in 2022 14:46, 9 February 2022
Return to campus arrangements 2022 11:15, 4 February 2022
Welcome to the new academic year and other updates 17:16, 2 February 2022
Annual Bongani Mayosi Memorial Lecture and other updates 17:01, 26 January 2022
Staff assembly on draft UCT Vaccine Mandate Policy 12:30, 25 January 2022

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.

 

“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.


Thank You UCT Community

Frequently asked questions

 

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.


If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

 

“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

TOP