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07 May 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish
Noko Masalesa
Noko Masalesa, Director of Protection Services, in conversation with students and stakeholders to plan a safe way forward.

Safety and security are human rights that constitute social justice. At the centre of the agenda at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Social Justice Week held on the Bloemfontein Campus from 17-22 April 2019 were discussions about off-campus safety. Stakeholders agreed on an upgrade to security measures in order to ensure the success and wellbeing of the student population.

A call to students

Prof John Mubangizi, Dean of the Faculty of Law, in his capacity as representative of the UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, expressed his view on institutions of higher learning no longer functioning as ivory towers. “For any initiative to succeed, collaboration is necessary between key roleplayers,” he said.

He aptly pointed out that: “We cannot underscore the importance of safety and security, not only for the university but also for the communities around us. What the university does benefits the community and vice versa. I pledge the university’s commitment to play a leading part to ensure that the collaboration works,” said Prof Mubangizi.

Beefing up security: Who is involved?

In view of the collaborative effort Prof Mubangizi alluded to, the engagement was twofold. First was the roundtable discussion facilitated by Protection Services which then escalated into a public dialogue where students had the opportunity to interact with external delegates.

The South African Police Services, Community Police Forum, Private Security, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Provincial Commissioner, and Deputy Minister of Police were well represented in this critical conversation. Internally, members of Protection Services, Housing and Residence Affairs, Student Affairs, Institute for Social Justice and Reconciliation, Student Representative Council, and the Department of Criminology heard the plight of off-campus safety faced by students.

Changes in the horizon

The discussions culminated with recommendations which will see the future of student safety take a different direction. According to Skhululekile Luwaca, former SRC president, these include “the municipality’s commitment to immediately address issues such as street lights and enforcing by-laws, ensuring an integrated accreditation system, and drafting a policy for off-campus accommodation, running more crime awareness campaigns, and giving police patrols more visibility.”

In addition to resolving to set up a student safety forum with all the stakeholders, the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has invited the UFS to join Reclaim the City – a safety forum where practical solutions to crime are devised and implemented on a weekly basis.


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Beste wense aan 6 Kovsies in Springbok Rugbyspan - Brief van die Rektor (Afrikaans)
2004-11-01

Gutro Steenkamp


Beste Gutro,
CJ van der Linde


Beste CJ,
Gerrie Britz


Beste Gerrie,
Juan Smith


Beste Juan,
Michael Claassen


Beste Michael,

Baie geluk uit ‘n feesvierende Kovsie-land! Ons is een en almal trots op jou insluiting in die Bokspan vir die komende toer en sien uit daarna om jou vordering dop te hou.

Ons hier op die Bult staan ‘n oomblik op en bring graag eer aan ons vyf Kovsies in die span – uit ‘n wenspan gekies tot ‘n wenspan.

Wees daarvan verseker dat ons deel van die pawiljoen uitmaak en julle in ons hart en gebede koester.

Beste wense!

Frederick C v N Fourie
Rektor en Visekanselier

2004-10-29


Dr Derik Coetzee
Menslike Bewegingskunde
 

Beste Derik

   

 

Jou insluiting as biokinetikus van die Springbok-rugbyspan na Engeland is ‘n bewys van die vertroue wat na die afgelope drie nasie reeks in jou gestel word. Baie geluk daarmee!

Dis besonders om te sien hoedat jy die Kovsie-visie van uitnemendheid uitleef.

Dis nie aldag dat Kovsies kan spog met 'n personeellid wat deel is van die Springbok-rugbyspan se ondersteuningsgroep nie, asook vyf (5) spelers wat in die span speel. Jy het jouself bewys as 'n waardige ambassadeur vir Kovsies. Ons is trots op jou.

Beste wense
 

Frederick CvN Fourie
Rektor en Visekanselier

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