Vice-Chancellor Message – 28 January 2022

Date: Jan 28, 2022 | News, Vice-Chancellor Messages

28 January 2022

Dear UJ Community,

This week, as I took one of my regular campus walkabouts, I could hear the chatter and laughter permeating the air. It was a reminder that we are indeed a closely-knit community, united in our love, care and support for each other. I am pleased that registrations for first-year and returning students are proceeding smoothly. As many of our prospective and registered students can attest, our Chatbot, MoUJi (UJ’s digital assistant) and Call Centre are efficient platforms for information. I have no doubt that we will reach our enrolment targets for the 2022 Academic Year.   

Similarly, I am pleased with the response to our Mandatory Vaccination Policy, which the UJ Council adopted  last year. Many of our employees and students have taken the opportunity to upload their vaccination certificates. I am confident that we will soon be able to resume contact face-to-face delivery of the academic programme to ensure optimal access to learning, research, laboratory, clinical workspaces within a safe environment.    

In this regard, I would like to reiterate that our employees need to be at least partially vaccinated (in the instances of the Pfizer first dose vaccine) and to have uploaded their vaccination certificates by this coming week on Tuesday, 1 February 2022, and to be fully vaccinated by 15 March 2022. In the same vein, students are to be at least partially vaccinated and to have uploaded their vaccination certificates by 14 February 2022 and to fully vaccinated by 31 March 2022. For information on the relevant links, the uploading of vaccination certificates and application for exemption, visit our website www.uj.ac.za.   

I also wish to remind our employees and students that the Logistics Department will provide transport to the Netcare Milpark and Liberty Life COVID-19 vaccination sites on Mondays and Thursdays between 14h00 and 16h00. Requests from employees must be submitted via their line manager to the campus health clinic a day in advance so that proper arrangements can be made.  Once vaccinated, you can get your vaccination certificate from the South African COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate System Portal  (https://vaccine.certificate.health.gov.za/) If you downloaded a certificate when the system was initially introduced, please ensure that you download a recent certificate (version 2).  

The University has put measures in place to assist employees, contractors and other stakeholders who may have difficulty in uploading their vaccination certificates or applying for exemption. We will optimise existing facilities such as computer labs, clinics and registration facilities for such purposes. Employees may also seek assistance from their line managers or contact the Campus Health Clinics for assistance. They can email mgeya@uj.ac.za or mirandat@uj.ac.za before the deadlines. You may also visit the UJ website www.uj.ac.za.  You may also dial +27 11 559 4555 or email mylife@uj.ac.za.   

The ICS Department is already assisting employees without computer equipment, access to email or with any difficulties they may face in uploading their vaccination certificates at the Campus points below:   

• APK – E-Les 201  
• APB – Con-Cowan G210  
• DFC – JOB 2231  
• SWC – Braam Fischer 203