Dear CUT Community

During these trying times, we are all experiencing elevated levels of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. Such emotions make it so much harder to deal with loss and grief.

It is with great sadness that we learnt about the passing of a valued part-time lecturer from our Welkom campus on 24 July 2020. Miss Sokoyi tested positive for COVID-19 and was discharged from hospital after her condition stabilised. Soon thereafter she passed away. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, loved ones, friends, colleagues and fellow students during this time of bereavement. May her soul rest in peace. Her untimely passing is not only a loss to family, but also to the university community. She conducted all her classes online and was not in contact with CUT staff or students on and off campus.

Since the increase of COVID-19 infections in South-Africa, CUT has lessened the severity of the infections on the two campuses among students and staff. In the past week, six staff members at the Bloemfontein campus, one staff member at the Welkom campus, and one student at the Bloemfontein campus tested positive for COVID-19, which brings the total of positive cases to eight staff and four students to date. Each case is dealt with according to the prescribed protocol in terms of reporting, close contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, and disinfection.

We will continue to notify the CUT community via the executive channels on COVID-19 cases among our staff and students. On behalf of the CUT community, I wish our infected staff and students a full and speedy recovery. We trust that the medical guidance and care provided will help them to overcome this disease.

While CUT continues to apply stringent measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff during this time, we urge you to take care of your own health and well-being. It is important to adhere to all the preventative protocol as prescribed by the Department of Health in order to minimise the risk of infection for yourself and for others. Be a responsible citizen and follow a strict hand hygiene regime, maintain social distancing, wear your mask, and restrict your movement as much as possible. Detailed and verified information is available on our CUT COVID-19 Information Hub.

As an institution, we will continue to do our part in preventing the infection risk, and to combat this disease. Together, we will be able to overcome this pandemic. May you all be blessed! E se e ka Ramasedi a ka le hlohonolofatsa! Mag julle almal geseënd wees!

Kind regards / Ditumediso tse mofuthu / Vriendelike groete

Prof. Henk de Jager
Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Download the VC communique, 29 July 2020 (PDF)