South Africa, like the rest of the world, is affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis, having registered the first case on 5th March 2020.

Following the Cabinet meeting on 15th March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the national state of disaster, and announced measures that were intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore on Tuesday, 17th March 2020, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr BE Nzimande and the Deputy Minister, Mr Buti Manamela, met with various stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training sector to discuss necessary measures to be taken within the sector to curb the spread of the coronavirus and among others, the meeting with stakeholders agreed on the establishment of the PSET Task Team on Covid-19 that will guide the response of the PSET sector to the development of the pandemic and its implications for the sector and its role in society.

We are honored and grateful that our Acting Vice Chancellor – Professor O Ayo-Yusuf has been appointed to serve on the Ministerial task team. His enormous experience in the Higher Education Sector and expertise in public health will assist in guiding/advising the task team to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Task Team shall, monitor the developments of the coronavirus pandemic, make continuous assessment and analysis of the available evidence to guide the decisions that affect the PSET sector and any adaptations required for policy-making; synthesize, collate and process research conducted by various agencies, institutions and individuals on relevant aspects of the pandemic to aid policy making and societal intervention; Identify cross-sectoral innovations, models, resources and expertise from within the PSET sector that could be mobilized and geared at various stages in the national effort to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus and manage its effects on communities; Make appropriate recommendations on the policy and strategy for consideration by the Minister; And with prior agreement of the Minister, make appropriate information available to the institutions in the sector to guide the decisions that may need to be made at various levels of the PSET governance structures.

Let us work together and take measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in our beautiful country.

Issued by Marketing and Communication

Download: 2020-03-30-Prof-Ayo-Yusuf-appointment