NYAKALLO TEFU|
The University of Cape has suspended the academic programme until Friday.
UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng provided an after fire broke out at the Rondebosch campus on Sunday.
“The assessment of the damages and the need to clean residences and academic buildings means that the academic programme at the University of Cape Town (UCT) will be suspended until Friday, 23 April,” said Phakeng.
Students at the campus residence were evacuated on Sunday due to fears of safety, which resulted in the suspension of classes from Monday morning.
“On Wednesday the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) will start managing the movement of students back to their residences from their emergency accommodation,” added Professor Phakeng.
Phakeng says learning will resume on Monday 26 April 2021 when the university feels it is safe for students to be back on campus.
“The faculties will each manage the lost week in terms of the curriculum and will communicate with their students about scheduled tests and assignments,” said Phakeng.
Gift of the Givers have also jumped on board in assisting students at the university with food parcels.
“We immediately swung into action on Sunday, 18 April, and finished feeding students at 01:40 on Monday morning. Operations resumed later on Monday morning at the Old Mutual West Campus in Pinelands,” said Gift of the Givers project manager, Ali Sablay.
The organisation says the university made a request for the assistance of 4000 students.
“Individuals have also been quick and eager to assist, as soon as the news broke that Gift of the Givers would be feeding students, our office was surrounded by cars and volunteers,” added Sablay.
