COVID-19: List of Closed Universities in SA – Which Universities Are Open?

CORONAVIRUS FAQs: How is Coronavirus affecting the South African Universities? How many Universities are still open? What’s the way forward?

Coronavirus in South Africa – Covid 19 in South Africa: While the government statement was clear about schools closing on Tuesday there was no clear message about universities and public colleges. Some will be open and some will be closed, so stay active for our daily updates.

List of Closed and Open Universities in SA

 ➡ Wits University – Closed

 ➡ Stellenbosch University – Closed

March/April 2023 graduation week canceled as a precaution. Lectures and assessments suspended from 17/03 for Stellenbosch Campus. Communications for Tygerberg students to come from Dean. On-campus students to return home – students unable to do so to be accommodated in res. Graduates will receive qualifications in absentia, can attend graduation in December.

➡ The University of Cape Town – Closed 

 ➡ The University of Johannesburg – Closed

All contact classes, undergraduate and postgraduate, are suspended with effect from 16th March 2023 until further notice.
All graduation ceremonies, including those scheduled for the 16th March, are postponed until further notice. All staff will continue to report for duty. This decision also follows the President’s announcement to the Nation on the measures taken to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

 ➡ University of the Western Cape – Closed

In light of the direction from Minister Blade Nzimande and the fact that Faculty plans are in place to prepare for online learning and teaching from 14 April 2023, the UWC Executive and Deans have decided to start recess on Wednesday, 18 March 2023.

 ➡ University of Pretoria: Closed

All students are advised that there will be no contact classes, tests and assessments from Monday, 16 March 2023, until mid-April 2023, when an assessment will be made with regard to the resumption of contact activities.

 ➡ Durban University of Technology: Closed

 ➡ Nelson Mandela University: Closed 

Suspend all academic activities, including classes, research, assessments and work-integrated learning (WIL) immediately. Following the end of recess, online or virtual learning, and other alternative platforms will be used until after the Easter weekend on 14 April

 ➡ University of Kwazulu-Natal: Closed

The academic programme is suspended (including tests) with immediate effect until further notice pending further engagements on a sector-wide approach regarding contact classes.

 ➡ Rhodes University: Closed

Graduation is being postponed. All academic activities at Rhodes University will be temporarily suspended on Monday, 16 March 2023.

 ➡ CPUT: Closed

Staff and students will not need to physically report for classes/duty ‪on Monday, 16 March 2023‬ up until the start of the second term (This was however due to protest action)

 ➡ North West University: Open

 ➡ University of the Free State: Closed

The UFS will go into early recess and classes are suspended from 17 March 2023. Instead of returning on 30 March 2023 for the second term, the academic programme is suspended until 13 April 2023 and students must return on 14 April 2023.

 ➡ University Of Mpumalanga: Closed

 ➡ University of Limpopo: Closed

All staff and student travel abroad have been canceled forthwith. All exchange programmes involving staff and students have been suspended forthwith. Suspend all the contact academic activities as from 16 March 2023 until further notice.

 ➡ University of Fort Hare: Closed

 ➡ Tshwane University of Technology: Closed

 ➡ Vaal University of Technology: Closed

All academic activity will be temporarily suspended from Tuesday, 17 March 2023 until further notice and the academic recess scheduled for 20-24 April 2023 has not been brought forward.

 ➡ Mangosuthu University of Technology: Closed

 ➡ University of Zululand: Closed

The commencement of the recess which was supposed to have started on Monday, 23rd March 2023 has been moved forward to Tuesday, 17th March 2023. Students will be advised of the date of re-opening in due course. All face to face activities, classes, as well as mass academic gatherings, are suspended forthwith. Alternate online teaching and learning methods will be utilized during this period

 ➡ Walter Sisulu University: Closed

The first term recess period will commence immediately. Students are advised to vacate their residences and return home for the vacation. Residences will be closed for occupation after 16 March 2023 to enable, where appropriate and/or needed, deep-cleaning maintenance processes to take place. Unless otherwise advised, the second term will commence as originally planned on 14 April 2023.

➡ UFS Announces Closure: Closed

UFS  is suspending its academic programme until April in light of Covid-19.

 ➡ UWC Announces Early Recess: Closed

The UWC Executive and Deans have decided to start recess on Wednesday, 18 March 2023. They have also provided information concerning arrangements for residence students.

➡ Rhodes University: Closed

Rhodes University has made the decision to start their recess early amid the coronavirus outbreak.

➡ Sol Plaatje University: Closed

Sol Plaatje University has formulated an action plan involving precautionary measures in order to combat the coronavirus.

➡ The University Of Fort Hare Closes To Limit Covid-19

The coronavirus has a ripple effect that sees the closure of all higher education institutions. The University of Fort Hare has released a statement concerning its closure.