UCT to resume academic programme on Monday

The fire ripped through a section of the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and quickly spread to adjacent areas over the weekend.

Historical artefacts and documents were lost when flames also engulfed the Jagger library.

In a statement, the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said an assessment of the damage is ongoing.

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“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. On Wednesday the Department of Student Affairs will start managing the movement of students back to their residences from their emergency accommodation,” said Phakeng.

“The academic programme will resume on Monday, 26 April. The faculties will each manage the lost week in terms of the curriculum and will communicate with their students about scheduled tests and assignments.”

In a video message to students, Phakeng shared a message of hope to students encouraging them to find strength in knowing that the university will recover.

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“I know the past 24 hours has been difficult for many of you, with the fire, losing our special collection in the jagger library, it’s been devastating. Many of us shed tears at seeing the library going up in flames.

“I hope you find strength in knowing the kind of support that we have received from all over the world, from our alumni, from even businesses around the country, it’s been overwhelming, our students are safe and I hope all of you will find strength in knowing that we will rebuild what we have lost, we will recover, we will rise together so please lets stand together this time and face the future with strength knowing that together we can make it.”