Dear Alumni and Friends,

I am sure you have been closely following the devastation on the UCT campus, and beyond.

Canadian alumni quickly jumped to support the Fire Emergency Fund and efforts to support students, and the University in the aftermath of the fire.

I extend my personal thanks to those alumni who have supported their alma mater in the past days.  As a fellow South African and Capetonian, I appreciated the phone calls and emails -  the outpouring of support from across Canada was heartwarming.  Within 2 days roughly $35,000 has been donated to the Fire Emergency Fund by Canadian alumni and friends.

At present 3,476 students are being housed in 35 hotels across the city, and its ‘all hands on deck’ as they are supported by a strong team of UCT staff.  Many students fled their residences in haste and with nothing. Many feel traumatised by the experience, are worried and concerned about disruption to their studies.  UCT has expanded their team of counsellors and therapists to have increased capacity in providing the psychosocial support that students require at this time. 

I can share the following report and plan of action received from the Development & Alumni Department –

"Medium-term: Our students’ safe return to campus

UCT has been establishing the extent of damages and is formulating a post-emergency plan for the rehabilitation of campus buildings destroyed and damaged in the blaze that swept the university on Sunday 18 April.

We confirm that two residences, Fuller and Smuts Hall, have been damaged by fire and will not be habitable for coming months while structural repairs are undertaken.

While our goal is to return all students to residence accommodation as soon as possible, our students’ health and safety remain our top priority:

• Residences will need to undergo thorough cleaning to remove soot and other residue from the fire. Thereafter they will be inspected for health and safety, with particular attention being paid to the risk of residual smoke inhalation. Following this, students can return to residences not damaged directly by the fire.
• During this phase we will need to ensure that students are safely transported back to their reses and that full COVID-19 prevention protocols are adhered to at all times.
• We are currently putting in place arrangements for alternative residential accommodation for the 420 Fuller and Smuts Hall students for the duration of the renovation of their residences, as well as ensuring that funds are in place to cover such accommodation and all related needs that students will have to engage fully in academic and social activities.
• We will also be ensuring that a tailored wellness program is available to all of these relocated students to address their emotional and physical health needs.

Long-term: Rehabilitation and reconstruction

With damage to a number of campus buildings, our current focus is on assessment thereof and the development of a rehabilitation plan. A major focus will be our Jagger Library Reading Room, which was completely gutted by the fire. The loss of precious irreplaceable collections held in the library is devastating. Structural damages are currently estimated to run into tens of millions.

Exact plans for this rehabilitation are unfolding and will be determined over the coming days and weeks."

As the days go by, regular updates are posted on social media, so I won’t inundate you now with more.  Alumni are encouraged to join UCT Alumni Connect for a direct line into UCT updates.  It is also a great portal for connecting with fellow alumni across the globe.

All donated funds will be on their way to Cape Town in the next week or so, and donation receipts will be issued in the coming days.

Please feel free to reach out with any queries.

Click the button below to make a direct Canadian donation to the
Fire EmergencyFund.