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On Thursday 30 June 2022, the national and provincial South African Police Service (SAPS) offices visited the University of the Free State Bloemfontein Campus as part of a SAPS initiative related to the development of a Learning Environment Safety framework.

The delegation was led by Major General Thokozani Mathonsi, the National Component Head of Social Crime Prevention, accompanied by representatives of the SAPS National Head Office, the Provincial Head Office, and Park Road and Kagisanong Police Stations.  

Cobus van Jaarsveld, Section Head: Threat Detection, Investigations and Liaison in the Department of Protection Services, said: “The focus of the framework is to enhance staff and student safety in cooperation with all the relevant structures that are in place at education institutions.”

“The emphasis was on the establishment of safety structures, victim or survivor support, gender-based violence, the appointment of liaison officers, and the way forward. The UFS is at the forefront of safety initiatives that have contributed significantly to the development of the framework, the functioning of the Student Safety Collaboration Forum, and a survivor-centred approach to dealing with incidents of sexual-related offences, including survivor support,” said Van Jaarsveld. 

With the majority of the University of the Free State students residing off campus, the UFS has contracted armed response companies in the past three years to provide response and patrol services as an intervention to fight the increase in crime.

Van Jaarsveld said: “It is important to develop a well-established communication and liaison link with the SAPS on all campuses, and the continued engagement of all role players in order to ensure the safety of all staff and students on the campuses, as well as to enhance off-campus safety.”

Having strengthened the partnership over the past three years, Van Jaarsveld believes “the partnership is necessary, as SAPS is responsible for the safety and security of the community.  The UFS Protection Services has a limited mandate and need the SAPS to perform some functions, especially proactive crime prevention operations and reactive investigation of crimes”.