The meeting comes amidst the suspension of classes and the early recess of universities across the country, including the University of the Free State (UFS) and Central University of Technology (CUT), amongst others. This as President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that the gathering of more than 100 people, amongst others, was prohibited due to the outbreak. Nzimande says the meeting will seek to agree and adopt a common national protocol and management across the sector.

So far 62 cases of Coronavirus pandemic have been confirmed by the Health minister, Zweli Mkhize. 

Nzimande will also meet with organised labour, which includes the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and the Public Servants Association (PSA) of South Africa. During a ministerial media briefing yesterday, Nzimande said his department was not yet planning on shutting down the institutions of higher learning in the country due to the outbreak of coronavirus in South Africa, following the confirmation of 62 cases in total. Nzimande says there are pros and cons when shutting down these institutions. Nzimande said instead contact at the institutions must be limited. “These are the issues we will discuss on Tuesday 17 March 2020, as to whether the situation warrants the shutting down. As of now, most institutions have said we agreed to limit contact, suspend lectures, use online modes and manage the situation of students in the residences to minimise contact,” Nzimande said.

So far, two universities have each reported one case of the virus, namely the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Cape. At Wits a student tested positive and all students that may have been in contact with the patients have been asked to self-isolate for at least two weeks. At the UCT, a lecturer also tested positive. The institution, therefore, decided to go on an early recess and also asked students to vacate the residences within 72 hours. 

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