VC Desk: UCT closed on Monday 10 October 2016
Released: 20:30, 7 October 2016
7 October 2016

Dear colleagues and students

The executive of the University of Cape Town has made the decision to suspend classes and to close all UCT campuses on Monday 10 October 2016.

The decision allows further time for engagement with key stakeholders, including the Student Representative Council and particularly the SRC candidates who are leading the protest actions on campus at present. Multiple other engagements will continue over the weekend in an attempt to heal divisions and to find possible solutions.

The executive is also in continuing discussions on options and scenarios that might still enable students to conclude the 2016 academic year successfully. We will share these ideas as soon as possible with stakeholders and with students in particular.

Staff are requested to be in contact with their direct line managers for further details. The most critical services need to be provided, i.e. services to students in residences (which remain open), and will continue by arrangement with line managers. Other examples of critical services to be provided include Student Wellness Service; Disability Service; the Refugee Rights Unit; services in the Masingene Building; student financial aid services; student treasury services; the Campus Protection Services and critical services in the Bremner building.

Private security, Vetus Schola, has been withdrawn from the campus until further notice in the hope that this will enable us to have more positive engagements without the hindrance of having to discuss their deployment on campus. They will not be deployed on campus on Monday either.

Please note that the Jammie Shuttle service will not operate and the libraries will be closed on Monday.

Dr Max Price
Vice Chancellor

Issued by UCT, 7 October 2016