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03 July 2018 Photo Rulanzen Martin
Prof Peacock elected president of World Society of Victimology
Prof Robert Peacock from the Department of Criminology has recently been elected president of the World Society of Victimology.
Prof Robert Peacock was recently elected as the new president of the World Society of Victimology (WSV) in Hong Kong recently and is the first from Africa to serve in the position. His term runs until 2021. Prof Peacock is head of the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Peacock is particularly excited about the positioning of the Department of Criminology as a strategic partner of the WSV and key roleplayer on the African continent and broader scientific communities. 

“I am excited to share our African values of interconnectedness as the art of being human in our scientific endeavours to protect and advance the collective well-being of our respective communities, scientific and otherwise,” he said.

His vision for the organisation is to “advance peace and justice on the planet through the development of reciprocal relationships between the global South and North”. “In the past, Africa and her broader communities were misrepresented in the context of academic privilege and status.”

WSV is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation with Special Category consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It has been instrumental in developing and operationalising the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power with the aim of improving victims’ access to justice, fair treatment, restitution, compensation and support, as well as taking steps to prevent victimisation linked to the abuse of power. 

News Archive

UFS acts fast in expelling students for serious misconduct
2014-02-22

On the evening of Monday 17 February 2014, Muzi Gwebu, a fifth-year student in BCom Economics, while walking on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS, was side-swiped by a vehicle driving recklessly through campus. He followed the vehicle where it stopped at one of the residences and approached the two occupants. A confrontation started and he was assaulted by one of the occupants of the vehicle.

Gwebu sustained minor injuries and was immediately assisted by the university’s residence life division. He lodged a complaint of assault at the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The senior leadership of the UFS is shocked and outraged at this blatant act of violence against one of its students. The Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen, says: “We regard this incident in a very serious light and we worked closely with the SAPS throughout the night to identify and locate the perpetrators who were driving with false number plates.”

With the assistance of the student leadership in one of the residences, the owner of the vehicle and his companion were traced this morning.

The two students were immediately handed to SAPS by the university’s Protection Services and were arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault and driving with false number plates.

In addition to the criminal investigation by the SAPS, the university is also conducting an urgent and formal investigation into the incident.

The university has offered Gwebu full counselling and support until he is fully recovered.

“It is sad and disappointing that, after so much progress with the social transformation of the UFS, such a horrific incident could have occurred. It is pleasing, however, that across the board, all our students condemned these vicious acts. The students, if found guilty in the criminal and institutional investigations, will definitely not be allowed to study at the University of the Free State,” he said.

END

Statement by Dr Willy Nel, Residence Head of Armentum men’s residence

The Residence Head, Residence Committee and all residents of Armentum male residence on the Bloemfontein Campus unequivocally distance themselves from any behaviour which does not breathe the letter and spirit of the University of the Free State's vision of Human Embrace and Academic Excellence. We work tirelessly to upend traditions that are contradicting this vision. Therefore we add our voice to those who condemn the incident in which ex-residents allegedly assaulted a pedestrian who is also a student of our institution. We express our support to and confidence in the university's and other processes to find justice in this matter.

Dr Willy Nel
Residence Head: Armentum


Media release
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Tel: +27(0)51 401 3422
Cell: +27(0)83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

 

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