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Given the unavailability of a vaccine for the virus and
its potential danger for older people and those with
compromised health, it was vital and urgent to raise
awareness about the virus and how to prevent its
spread. Posters and flyers were immediately made
available on the MUT campuses, in residences and
on the buses that transport students to and from the
University. The consistent message across social
media platforms, WhatsApp and posters, was to wash
hands every 20 minutes, practise social distancing,
avoid hand shaking, and use elbows instead of
hands when coughing. Sister Nomusa Mkhwanazi,
Head of the MUT Clinic, attended a series of
stakeholder engagement programmes organised by
the Department of Health. “Her attendance helped
provide accurate information about how we should
communicate and immerse ourselves in the protocols
of communicating this pandemic,” said Mbali Mkhize,
Senior Director: Marketing and Communications.
Mkhize says that the MUT Brand Ambassadors quickly
became Change Agents for the cause. They embarked
on a week-long mission, moving from residence to
residence distributing pamphlets on COVID-19 to
students and the Umlazi community.
In addition to raising awareness via Sister Mkhwanazi
and Dr Zodwa Ngobese’s presentations to the EMC,
SRC, clinic staff, peer educators, peer helpers, house
committees and student structures, the MUT Clinic
played a key medical role. It used its facility to service
staff and students and to screen patients with flu-
like symptoms for the COVID-19 infection. It also
provided immune boosters and flu vaccines to those
in the HIV Wellness Programme as part of its medical
interventions.
The Operations Directorate played a critical role in
distributing hand sanitisers across theUniversity. As part
of its preventative measures, Operations also carried
out the task of ensuring that all ventilation systems
within the University were functioning optimally, and
that the spaces into which the air-conditioning units
extract are not used by staff and students.
“Given the unavailability of a vaccine for the Coronavirus and its
potential danger for older people and those with compromised health,
it was vital and urgent to raise awareness about the virus and how to
prevent its spread.”
Following the declaration of COVID-19 as a national
disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday,
15 March 2020, the MUT Senate met to discuss the
implications of the President’s pronouncement. At
this meeting Senate suspended all contact lectures,
recommended that lectures be conducted online
where possible, and limited access to the library.
On the basis of a 17 March directive by the Minister
of Higher Education, Science and Technology,
backed up by healthcare professionals, the MUT
Senate proactively decided to move the University
recess forward to 18 March 2020. The end date of
the recess was moved from 15 to 17 April after the
dates of the national lockdown were announced.
South African students were given 72 hours to vacate
University residences, while international students
were provided with accommodation since they could
not travel home. Graduation was also postponed. The
University strengthened the use of Blackboard, which
is an online tool to enhance teaching and learning.
MUT staff continue to work from home, given the
recent extension of the lockdown until the end of April.
Sister Nomusa Mkhwanazi