The University of Cape Town has put emergency measures in place in order to respond to the fire on the Rondebosch campus on Sunday, 18 April.
The university is arranging emergency accommodation for students evacuated from residences.
Approximately 4000 meals were prepared for distribution on Sunday evening and further meals will be prepared at Old Mutual’s offices in Pinelands, Cape Town and from there these will be distributed to the locations where students are accommodated. The necessary arrangements have also been made to cater for our Muslim students.
The public is asked to donate any essential items and food which they may wish to contribute at Old Mutual West Campus, 91 Jan Smuts Road, Pinelands, Cape Town. The site is open until 23:00 on Sunday night and will reopen at 06:00 on Monday.
Emergency relief fund
“We urge those able to, to please donate to the emergency relief fund that has been set up. The details are as follows:
Account name: UCT Donations Account
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
Account number: 07 152 2387
Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Donors should please include their name if you so wish to, as well as the purpose/reference for your donation (#UCTFire).”
The following services are standing by on a toll-free phone line to support the affected members of the campus community:
• SA Depression and Anxiety Group: 080 024 2526
• ICAS: 080 111 3945
Damage to property
UCT is at this stage not able to confirm extent of the damage to property, as well as the number or names of buildings affected.
Impact on academic year
All academic activities will be suspended tomorrow and on Tuesday. We will provide further updates in due course.
“We thank all emergency services support staff who have worked with the university, City of Cape Town and SanParks thus far. Our thoughts are with the incredible fire fighters at this time, we wish them strength and endurance as they work tirelessly to extinguish this devastating fire.
UCT will provide further updates as and when more information becomes available. Please monitor the UCT website for further information.”
