There has been a recent increase in violent crimes on higher education campuses across the country and students and staff are fearing for their safety.
The rise in murders, rapes and robberies on Post School Education and Training (PSET) campuses is a cause for concern among those in the sector. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) reveals the plans they have in place to combat this issue.
Back in January, a failed assassination attempt of University of Fort Hare vice chancellor, Sakhela Buhlungu, left her executive protection officer, Mboneni Vesele, dead. This was not the first incident of violence at the university, as an employee was found bound in his flat and a student was found murdered within a few months. Both of these incidents occurred near the Alice campus in the Eastern Cape.
Gender based violence (GBV) is another issue troubling South African universities, resulting in countless incidents of sexual assault and murder, leaving female students and staff members scared and vulnerable on campus.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, has responded to questions regarding what the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the relevant institutions are doing to ensure the safety of students on campuses.
Since 2019, the DHET has been liaising with universities, Universities South Africa (USAf), South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Campus Protection Society of Southern Africa (CAMPROSA) to discuss the safety issues and concerns at universities. Protocols were established to ensure SAPS direct intervention in instances of violence.
The DHET also committed to work with USAf and universities to improve the capacity of institutions to maintain peace and ensure campus safety and security.
The Department requested that universities submit their plans to increase safety and security on their campuses and residences, including all safety-related initiatives. The plans were analysed and funds have been made available in the Infrastructure Efficiency Grant (IEG) for safety and security projects.
The University Education Branch held a meeting with the Heads of Security to determine and understand the various threats these universities are experiencing and implement immediate, medium-term and long-term interventions. A Policy Framework was also suggested as a guideline for the development of policies by universities to further guarantee campus safety.
A national security audit is also in progress to determine the state of safety and security at higher education institutions. The aim of this audit is to discover what security measures are currently in place on campuses, what the institution staff and students think of the current measures and what university management is doing to encourage safety and security.
Following the recent murders at the University of Fort Hare, the Department has announced the development of a National Task Force (NTF) to assist with inventions and strategies to ensure safety and security on PSET campuses.
As violent crimes continue, the Department together with universities and TVET Colleges, are developing and implementing strategies and inventions to promote the safety and security of those in the PSET sector.
