Purpose of policy

To explain the services available to staff who are relocating from outside of Cape Town and the boarders of South Africa.

Applicable to

All staff in payclass 9 and above including Lecturer level and above who have contracts exceeding two years or are permanent appointments who are relocating from outside of Cape Town and South Africa.

Services provided

• Travel

For staff members who are travelling to Cape Town / South Africa by air, single economy class airtickets are arranged through UCT’s preferred travel agent, Millway Sure Travel, who liaises directly with the staff member regarding a suitable flight schedule.

• UCT meets this cost directly with the travel agent.
• The University does not meet the cost of excess baggage.

If the staff member chooses to drive to Cape Town, the staff member is refunded the cost of single economy class airtickets for him/herself, partner and immediate dependants, upon arrival in Cape Town.

• Moving of furniture

The staff member is granted financial assistance towards the cost incurred for the transport of books, furniture and personal effects as stated in his/her offer of appointment. On receiving the acceptance of an offer of appointment the University requests three transport companies to contact the appointee regarding quotations for the transport of the goods concerned. The appointee is required to give an indication of his/her preference. The University is not committed to the payment of any transport costs until it has received all quotations and accepted one of them.

• The cost of transporting pets, a motor car, motor bike, boats, etc will not be considered by the University.
• Where required, the University will meet the cost of storage of personal effects in Cape Town for a maximum period of three months.
• Where required, the University will meet the cost of one re-delivery in terms of the quotation received and accepted.
• The cost of part deliveries must be met by the staff member, although an allowance will be made should the staff member require his/her books for her work at the University.
• The staff member may choose to defer the moving of his/her furniture, as in the case where the staff member’s family joins him/her at a later stage, but the move can only be deferred for 12 months.
• If a staff member decides not to make use of the moving service, no payment will be made to the staff member in lieu thereof.

• Settlement allowances

• A settlement allowance of R5 000 per household is granted to members of staff recruited from outside of Cape Town.
• A settlement allowance of R10 000 per household is granted to members of staff recruited from outside the republic of South Africa.
• This allowance is paid to the staff member tax-free upon arrival in Cape Town.

• Accommodation

UCT temporary accommodation is made available to new staff members joining the University from outside of Cape Town and South Africa, depending on availability thereof, for a maximum period of six months.

• Applications for extensions beyond six months will not be considered.
• Upon receipt of the staff member’s formal acceptance, the staff member is encouraged to make direct contact with Ferozah Jacobs in Staff Housing, to find out if accommodation will be available.
• The staff member can choose between a furnished apartment or a furnished cottage, depending on what is available at the time.
• Payment for rental of the apartment/cottage will be made directly from the staff member’s salary.
• Should UCT accommodation not be available, the staff member is either put on a waiting list until accommodation becomes available, or the use of an external Relocation Consultant is used to source suitable property for purchase or rental outside of the University.

In the event that Staff Housing is unable to accommodate the staff member, UCT accommodation will not be available to the staff member at a later stage.

• External relocation consultant

The service of this Consultant is made available to new staff who are coming to the University from outside of Cape Town and South Africa, to assist with the following:

• Sourcing of schools for children
• Sourcing of suitable property for purchase or rental outside of the University
• The University will meet the cost of 10 hours of the Consultant’s time, which will include research and taking the staff member to view properties or visit schools.
• If the staff member requires more than 10 hours of the Consultant’s time, this will need to be for the account of the staff member.

• Repayment of travel, transport and settlement allowances

Should the staff member leave the University before three years have expired (or in the case of a fixed term contract appointment, before the expiry of the contract) he/she must refund such part of the monetary allowance as is proportionate to the unexpired portion of three years (or in the case of a fixed term contract appointment, the unexpired portion of the contract).

Should a staff member leave the University, the University will not be responsible for the payment of his/her relocation from Cape Town.

Page last updated: 17 October 2011

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