UCT Students given 72 hours to vacate residences

UCT and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have also suspended classes and graduation ceremonies amid the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

READ: ANC calls for tracing and isolating coronavirus victims

This comes after a Wits medical student and UCT staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in isolated cases. 

In a statement, UCT says they have cancelled conferences and events until the end of June 2020.

"UCT has suspended the approval of any university-related international travel until the end of June 2020." 

"Consistent with these decisions, please note that the 2020 Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2020 have been postponed." 

In Gauteng, Wits spokesperson, Shirona Patel, says support staff at the university are still expected to go to work.

"Employees are requested to maintain social distance and, where possible, meetings and group work should be conducted telephonically, online, or via video conferencing." 

"A temporary moratorium has been placed on all travel, both outbound and inbound and applies to both local and international travel."

"This also means that people who have travelled into South Africa should not be allowed to enter the University," says Patel.