Dear Student South Africa currently faces a colossal challenge in the form of a second wave of Covid-19, with the Western Cape province singled out as one of the hardest hit provinces to date. The Western Cape (WC) is officially registered as one of the four South African provinces accounting for most of the Covid-19 infections in the country, with a worrying 53,4% increase in new cases since the beginning of December. As of Wednesday 9 December, the WC had 144, 419 infections, according to the health ministry. Because of this second wave, which is set to increase in the coming weeks, our Health Minister has cautioned all institutions, businesses and individuals to avoid large gatherings. In light of the severity of this situation, Stellenbosch University's (SU) Institutional Business Continuity Committee (ICBC) at a special meeting held yesterday afternoon decided that the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) pledge ceremonies on Monday 14 December 2020 could only proceed in a virtual format. This means that we will proceed with a live-stream version of our pledge ceremonies, with myself, the faculty management team and guest speaker. We invite you to participate with us virtually in this milestone day, as we applaud the completion of your degrees. We would also like to request that you read the Health Professional's Pledge – a significant marker of the end of every medicine and health sciences student's journey – as a graduating cohort with your classmates, friends and families from the comfort of your home. The Health Professional's Pledge is a promise by each of you to be an ethical health professional who respects people, cares for themselves and treats others with dignity, integrity and compassion. As the faculty management team, we commit to observing this important part of our academic tradition and look forward to your sharing it with us. I am aware that this decision to host Monday's pledge ceremonies virtually will come as a big disappointment but it remains our responsibility to ensure your safety and the safety of others by practicing prudence. The decision to change the format of the event at such short notice was not taken lightly. Given the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, coupled with the risks associated with large gatherings and the risk to our graduands who need to enter the health workforce in the coming weeks, the ICBC made this very difficult decision. LIVE-STREAM PLEDGE CEREMONIES ON MONDAY 14 DECEMBER We will host the pledge ceremonies virtually and will request that you read the Health Professional's Pledge with us at the beginning of the ceremony. Our guest speakers will be present and deliver their addresses. We will read each of your names aloud and announce those who obtained distinctions and who won subject prizes. Our faculty prize-winners will be announced at the end of each ceremony. Our Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy graduands are requested to join us via live streaming at 09h00 for 09h30 as we host their pledge ceremony virtually. Please click here for your live-streaming link. Our MBChB graduands are requested to join us via live streaming at 13h00 for 13h30 as we host their pledge ceremony virtually. Please click here for your live-streaming link. HIRING OF ACADEMIC WEAR The arrangements for the hiring of academic wear on Tygerberg Campus remains in place for our graduands who would like to make use of this service.  Please visit Stellenbosch University's graduation website (www.sun.ac.za/graduation) for more detailed information on the hiring of academic wear. PLEDGE AND DEGREE CERTIFICATES The issuing of the degree certificates, signing of the pledge book and issuing of the pledge certificates will take place on the Tygerberg Campus from 15-18 December 2020 (excluding the public holiday on 16 December 2020) to ensure that you are able to take receipt of your degree certificate before commencing with your internship or community service in 2021.  The necessary safety protocols and physical distancing will be adhered to for both aforementioned services. Please click here for further information about the collection of your certificates.   Thank you for joining us online on Monday 14 December 2020. I look forward to sharing in this important day with each of you. Please take care of yourselves and your families and stay safe this holiday season. Sincerely Professor Jimmy Volmink Dean: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences