Report on disruptions and other updates

Dear students and colleagues

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

1. UCT operations

Classes, tests and exams proceed as scheduled, but course conveners may postpone or cancel events at their discretion in the interests of safety. The Jammie Shuttles are running with some interruptions. UCT Libraries and all branch libraries are open, except for the Library Learning Lounge. The Hlanganani 24/7 Study Area will be open tonight.

• Read the latest campus updates…

2. Report on disruptions

On the night of 8 November, a crowd of over 70 students congregated at the steps in front of Memorial Hall as part of a night vigil. The South African Police Service was called to the scene and monitored the meeting from a distance.

During the evening, protesters set bins alight at the Cissie Gool Plaza food court and the Steve Biko Students’ Union. Campus Protection Services (CPS) officers extinguished the fires with the help of private security staff.

A fire hydrant was discharged in front of Ikhaya Day House, which flooded the lift and the first level, with water running down the roof of the Otto Beit Building. Maintenance staff responded to the situation.

A fire alarm at the AC Jordan Building was responded to by a CPS officer and the fire department. It was later found that there was no fire, and that an extinguisher had been discharged.

Protesters also overturned the CPS kiosk on Woolsack Drive. CPS officers managed to remove the obstruction and it was later taken to Burnage House on lower campus. A window pane on the north side of the middle campus was broken.

Students also notified CPS that taps had been left running and basins blocked with toilet paper in Graça Machel Hall. Sub wardens managed to clean the area.

The Groote Schuur Community Improvement District (GSCID) kiosk in Cecil Road was also overturned by protesters and damaged. The kiosk was removed by the GSCID.

3. Two new senior appointments at IAPO and OIC

Dr Beata Nonhlanhla Mtyingizana has been appointed as the director of the International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO). She will take over from Professor Evance Kalula, who will retire at the end of 2017 after many years of dedicated service to UCT.

Dr Sianne Alves has been appointed as the new director of the Office for Inclusivity and Change (OIC). She will take up the new role with immediate effect. The OIC was previously known as the HIV/AIDS Inclusivity & Change Unit (HAICU) and will also include Disability Services and the department previously known as the Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO).

• Read Dr Mtyingizana’s abridged CV…
• Read Dr Alves’s abridged CV…

4. Vice-Chancellor vacancy extended

The search for a Vice-Chancellor to provide academic and executive leadership at the university has been extended and is available on the UCT vacancies page.

The closing date for applications is 22 November 2017. Nominations will be accepted and nominators are encouraged to advise nominees of the closing date for applications.

All nominations and applications must be sent to Ms Sithini. For further enquiries please contact +27 (0)21 650 2220.

• Read the VC vacancy notice…

5. UCT Libraries information-finding solution

UCT Libraries will soon be going live with a world-class information-finding solution, Primo. With this cloud-based solution, which replaces the current library system, students, researchers, academics and staff will be able to discover UCT Libraries’ rich collections.

• Read the newsbyte…

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements