MINISTER of Higher Education Blade Nzimande has announced that all the universities will be allowed to welcome back all the students.
This comes after the President’s announcement that the country would move to Level 1.
He was briefing the media Wednesday.
He said the 100% included all those international students who are currently outside the boarders of South Africa.
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"With respect to international students returning who remain outside our country, 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," he said.
Nzimande said all universities are implementing their plans to return all students and staff from1st October subject to any restrictions linked to their own risk assessment due to their local context and conditions.
"It must however be noted that the prescripts of COGTA regulations will apply.
“This means that the health and safety protocols in terms of physical distancing (at least 1.5m), wearing masks, washing hands, sanitizing and environmental cleaning will be applied," he said.
He said in addition, they will now be able to move to a 50% occupancy of rooms up to a maximum of 250 persons indoors at a time, with ventilation of rooms remaining critical.
The Minister said as a sector, they will also allow the hosting of side gatherings up to 500 people at a time.
"As I have indicated in previous briefings, universities have been implementing their own return strategies in line with their teaching and learning and campus readiness plans.
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"Each institution has taken a different approach to the risk-adjusted, phased-in return, dependent on their context and readiness, and in line with their own detailed institutional plans and strategies," he said.
Nzimande said interms of the most recent monitoring report of the COVID-19 the total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported by institutions was 1 979.
He said of these 1 215 were staff, and 764 were students.
"245 652 students had been issued with permits to come onto campuses for teaching and learning and research purposes.
“This amounts to approximately 40% of the contact student population," he said.
