An apparent increase in student-targeted crime has the Brixton police worried.
So much so that the station commander, Colonel Mkhacani Maluleke, recently called a meeting with university representatives to try and get to the bottom of it.
“Crime has gone up. We tried to see where it came from and realised that when the universities close, the crime rate is not as high,” he said.
Maluleke added that the areas around the universities should be a safe haven for students and a place where they can move freely.
“We have found that student accommodation is also targeted.”
This is also not the first meeting of its kind. Previously, the question of accredited student communes was raised. Police said they will get the list of accredited communes from universities to help safeguard these houses and also be aware of those that are not accredited.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) joined the conversation. Spokesperson Herman Esterhuizen said many parents are concerned about the safety of their daughter or son on a university campus, away from home.
“At the University of Johannesburg, we understand that concern and accept our responsibility to enforce security policies to ensure our students enjoy their years at the university as free as possible from threats to their safety or well-being.”
Given the extent of crime in South Africa, UJ said it approaches this issue with other roleplayers, like the police, the local municipality and ward councillors.
Esterhuizen said, “The university has embarked on an unending Crime Prevention Campaign – the campaign, among others, creates awareness on how to go about reporting potential criminal actions and police emergencies as street crime is on the increase in most large cities.”
Students are, through this campaign, encouraged to be street smart, to plan their routes in advance, and to be alert.
“Safety tips and other security measures to guard against theft and so on, form part of the awareness campaign. Students are also encouraged to familiarise themselves with the external safety routes near UJ’s campuses under our surveillance.”
Esterhuizen agreed that student accommodation, at UJ as well as other universities, is a perennial challenge.
The availability of affordable, easily accessible, safe and secure student accommodation is a priority for the university, he said.
Student communes that are not accredited are plenty, and UJ has created a list of approved Privately Owned Student Accommodation (Posa), which met the required minimum standards of student accommodation in order to supplement the reses.
“Thus far, 16 200 beds of Posa are approved to accommodate UJ students. Students staying in these approved Posa, having NSFAS or bursaries, have their accommodation funded,” he said.
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