Properties and Services is the department that supports the academic programme by taking care of the vast University of Cape Town properties and providing various services to the university community at large. This is done through project managing the erection of all new buildings, re-designing the spaces in existing buildings, maintaining existing properties, providing access control, security, transport, traffic control and providing cleaning, gardening and postal services university-wide. The division is made up of the following units:
Projects & Capital Works
This unit plans and executes building infrastructure projects to address the on-going space requirements of the University. They do this by managing and coordinating capital building, engineering related or other development projects. They also manage project funding and facilitate tendering of projects in line with UCT’s tender policy.
Physical Planning Unit
The unit focuses on space management, which includes space allocation, design and planning. They also supply copies of the University of Cape Town architectural drawings and floor plans.
Security
The Campus Protection Services (CPS) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are committed to maintaining the safety of the university community and property, as well as keeping order in accordance with university policies. Within the unit there is a separate Investigations Department, which handles requirements of the complainant/informant after reporting a crime. They also report crimes to the South African Police Services (SAPS).
Transport
The transport unit runs a unique shuttle service, called the Jammie Shuttle, which is available free to all UCT students, staff and official visitors.
The fleet is made up of 28 buses (18 big ones, 9 midi size and 1 mini bus) and these operate between residences, all UCT campuses and some public bus, train and parking facilities in the local vicinity.
Traffic
The traffic unit administers the traffic control on all of the University of Cape Town's premises, through patrols and enforcement. The service also includes selling parking disks/permits to staff, students and third parties needing to use the parking areas on the university premises. The unit also manages the visitor reception area.
Access Control
The UCT Access Control department offers the following services:
Production of UCT staff, student and Third Party identification cards.
Replacement of lost or damaged UCT staff, student and Third Party identification cards.
Assigning of access to individuals or groups to specified areas on campus (all requests to be authorised by relevant HOD, see Contacts).
Processing general access related queries.
Maintenance
Maintenance has three main categories:
Reactive repairs: This is the day-to-day maintenance.
Planned work: This follows a schedule and is an inspection service of all our plant and equipment.
Refurbishment projects: Our inspections often reveal which areas of our Plant and Equipment need refurbishments and this is undertaken as a project.
Cleaning Services
The UCT Cleaning Services cleans all areas throughout the university with the exception of residences and areas that need specialised cleaning, such as certain laboratories. The service offered covers the following:
Cleaning of offices, administration areas, kitchens and ablution areas
Cleaning of teaching venues
Setting up venues for tests, exams and other functions e.g. for graduation ceremonies
Preparation of test and exam venues
Assisting at graduations
Daily removal of litter from the campus offices and public areas
Grounds and Gardens
The role of Grounds and Gardens is to look after the maintenance of The University’s grounds, gardens and sports fields.
The service looks after the following:
Landscape and plant maintenance;
Upkeep of lawns, pruning and weeding;
General tree maintenance;
Irrigation systems;
Provision of decorative plants for University functions;
Horticultural advice related to the University
Maintenance of sports field, for example, mowing, marking and the preparation of sports fields for practice and matches;
Assisting with basic waste removal such as the emptying of stand-alone bins across the various campuses and transferring them to the designated pick-up points for collection by external waste company contracted by university.
Where necessary the services of specialist companies are also used, for example, in respect of arboricultural work.
Postal Services
The postal service handles the following:
franking and delivery of external mail and registered items to the post office;
