3 January 2021
Dear UJ Community
Happy New Year!
We hope you had a pleasant festive season, and we wish everyone of you a prosperous new year. As you would be aware, the State President, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa recently (on 28 December 2020), announced that South Africa had been moved to COVID-19 National Lockdown “adjusted” Level 3 from Level 1. He said this decision was taken to curb the further spread of the coronavirus, after an upsurge in the number of infections, which have been rising at “an alarming and unprecedented manner”.
In the past few days, as we approach the reopening of the University tomorrow on Monday 4 January 2021, I have been inundated with enquiries from staff and students asking whether they need permits to return to the University in this period. Kindly be informed that there is no requirement for permits to gain access to the University. As such, we should continue to operate just as we had been doing before the end-of-year recess until further notice.
However, all health and safety procedures and protocols for the resumption of campus-based academic activities under the Lockdown Level 3 remain, as per the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (DHET) guidelines.
Herewith is a reminder of these procedures and protocols for the safe return to campuses.
- All staff and students will be subjected to a safety induction process, that will include the completion of the declaration of indemnity forms.
- All staff, students and external stakeholders to complete a compulsory screening.
- All staff, students, and external stakeholders must wear cloth masks at all times (they will collect masks upon first entering campus).
- All line managers in various departments/divisions are required to perform and report on a risk assessment of their respective work environments.
- Additionally, all returning staff and students should provide names of contact persons (next of kin) to staff at Campus Health Service when requested, should they become symptomatic. This is in adherence to Departments of Health and Employment and Labour guidelines.
Please continue to visit our COVID-19 portal on the UJ website for valuable information, including health and wellbeing. Only information issued via the University’s official communication platforms is legitimate. This information may be verified by visiting: https://www.uj.ac.za/news/corona-virus//. We appeal to all to adhere to the recommended precautionary measures, hygiene and social distancing (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public) at all times.
Issued by University Management
University of Johannesburg
