According to the university’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Francis Petersen, security upgrades have been put in place to secure the safety of students on campus, whilst they are still working on measures to secure the safety of the thousands living in off-campus residences. 

Speaking ahead of a safety summit set to take place at the Bloemfontein campus this weekend, Petersen said that they have established an office that specifically looks into accrediting off-campus accommodation to ensure that it meets all health and security standards. 

He says they are looking into student transport alternatives, as opposed to having a shuttle service, due to financial constraints; and that they will be increasing the number of private response security personnel they have contracted to focus on residents around the campus and crime hot-spot areas.

Following the recent disappearance of the 21-year-old, QwaQwa campus-student Amkelani Thwala;  the student stabbing incident in Durban and the rape and murder of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana, Petersen says the lack of safety of students remains one of their massive concerns.
 
“On campus we increased visibility and the number of our protection services officers. We have upgraded our surveillance system in terms of cameras. We have red panic buttons installed around campuses and are going to increase them. We are looking at increasing our lighting and asked our students about areas where they think there should be more lighting. We have also made whistles available, particularly to female students” said Petersen.
 
He says he is fairly comfortable with safety on campus while they shift more focus to off-campus students.
 
Petersen says the summit, to be held on Friday and Saturday, will bring together students, the unit for Social Justice, the Mangaung Metro, as well as the Free State Police Commissioner. He says that it is at this summit where stakeholders will engage on measures to be taken to upgrade the security of students off-campuses.

OFM News