Universities ready for 100% student capacity - Nzimande
Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande has announced that universities across the country are ready to welcome back 100% student capacity on campuses.
This will include the return of international students.
Nzimande made the announcement during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The return of more students to campus comes a few weeks after the country moved to level 1 of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Universities begun implementing plans for the return of all students and staff from October 1.
Nzimande said international students residing outside of the country, on their return, would have to adhere to strict Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs regulations before being allowed back on campus.
"They will need to meet the requirements of the COGTA regulations - which includes having a test, not older than 72 hours, showing that they are negative for the virus on arrival in South Africa.
"If not, they will need to go into quarantine at their own expense for at least 10 days before proceeding to their respective institutions.”
Due to the Covid-19 disruptios, Nzimande anticipates that the new academic year for first-year students would start between 8 March and 12 April 2021.
This is due to some institutions only being able to finish the current academic year in 2021.
"Ten universities aim to complete the academic year before the end of the 2020 calendar year, four universities plan to end in January 2021, seven universities plan to complete in February 2021, and five universities plan to complete in March 2021," he explained.
Listen to the minister below: