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Protection Services enhances student safety

17 May 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish

Shining the light on the darkness, which is crime.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Protection Services works around the clock to safeguard students in order to reduce risks of crime on and around the three UFS campuses. On 12 May 2023, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Brandwag Sector Community Policing Forum (CPF), and Protection Services organised a safety awareness campaign from 19:00 to 21:00, which is the peak period for crime incidences in the neighbourhood.

“Continuous awareness to enhance student safety in the Brandwag area highlights the commitment of the UFS, SAPS, and the community through the CPF structure towards student safety,” said Jacobus van Jaarsveld, Deputy Director: Threat Detection, Investigations, Compliance and Liaison in Protection Services.

Mitigating risks and maximising safety

Students and staff are the most valuable assets of the UFS. Protection Services has various initiatives and a dedicated team that ensures the physical safety of all who study and work at the institution. The safety, health, and well-being of the university community remains the university’s priority. Off-campus safety and security are at the top of the list, hence Protection Services, in collaboration with external stakeholders, remains steadfast in its attempts to create a safe environment.

Continuous awareness campaigns

On 16 May 2023, Protection Services continued to spread safety awareness in the Universitas neighbourhood (with the assistance of students), where many UFS students live – first in Badenhorst Street and then in Stofberg Street. Throughout the year, these patrols and awareness initiatives will continue, expanding to the South and Qwaqwa campuses.

The UFS value framework includes compassion as a core virtue. As a result, we as a university take pleasure in our dedication to fostering environments that are not only favourable for excellent teaching, learning, and scholarship, but also emphasise the well-being and happiness of the campus community. Vision 130, an expansion of the strategic purpose to reposition the institution for 2034 when the university will celebrate its 130th anniversary, demonstrates our value of care.

Contact details:

If you need any assistance, call Protection Services on its toll-free number 0800 204 682, which is available 24/7.

Off-campus security liaison vehicle spotted in the safety convoy

Off-campus security liaison vehicle spotted in the safety convoy

The SAPS Visible Policing Unit present to raise awareness about safety

The SAPS Visible Policing Unit present to raise awareness about safety

Present in the fight to build safer neighbourhoods was the Sector 2 CPF

Present in the fight to build safer neighbourhoods was the Sector 2 CPF

Students living off campus engaged with the team during the anti-crime drive

UFS Protection Services together in arms with the SAPS and members of the CPF

Ensuring that students who live off campus remain a priority

Keeping the neighbourhood safe and secure is of the utmost importance

Keeping the neighbourhood safe and secure is of the utmost importance

Targeting crime hotspots and conducting a needs analysis of the students living in those areas to ensure their well-being

Working around the clock to serve and protect the lives of students living off campus

Promoting a crime-free off-campus environment

News Archive

UFS academics present papers at major conference

2009-07-23

Pictured from the left are: Prof Neethling, Prof Edna van Harte (Dean of the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University), Dr Thomas Mandrup (from the Royal Danish Defence College and co-organiser of the conference), and Prof Heidi Hudson.
Photo: Supplied

Prof Theo Neethling from the Department of Political Science was recently invited to address a conference on the theoretical basis for states’ use of military instruments of force and scholarly progress in the understanding of armed conflict in Africa held at Stellenbosch University (SU) on 11 and 12 June 2009. This conference, themed Strategic Theory and Contemporary Africa Conflicts, was presented by the Faculty of Military Science of SU in collaboration with the Faculty of Military and Strategic Studies of the Royal Danish Defence College in Copenhagen. The conference was premised on the point that the way in which states choose to become involved in, orchestrate or oppose armed conflicts in terms of peace intervention action, normally originates from theoretical thinking well-grounded in a national strategy. This was the first conference in South Africa that focused on the nature of such a national strategy, but also on how the incidence of recent armed conflicts in Africa could be explained in terms of this theoretical thinking. In view of this Prof Neethling’s paper was titled, “UN peacekeeping operations in Africa: Reflections on developments, trends and the way forward”. His paper focused on recent and current UN peacekeeping operations with special reference to multinational challenges in the African context.

Prof. Heidi Hudson from the Centre for African Studies also attended the conference in Stellenbosch on Strategic Theory and Contemporary Africa Conflicts. In addition she was invited to present a paper at the Peacekeeping Africa 2009 conference held on 24 and 25 June 2009 at Gallagher Estate, Midrand. The event brings together individuals who are experts in defence, peacekeeping, policing, foreign service and other government bodies to share knowledge and to discuss the latest developments. This year’s conference was attended by more than 100 experts from all over Africa, with strong representation from the UN and the International Red Cross. Prof. Hudson’s paper was entitled “Peacebuilding through a gender lens”. Her presentation examined lessons learnt with regard to implementation of a gender perspective in Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda. These case studies point towards an empirical link between women’s inclusion in peace processes and the quality of peace finally achieved. Prof. Hudson warned that inattention to the differential needs of both women and men during conflict and in the post-conflict reconstruction phase may perpetuate the violence discourses which sustained the conflict in the first place.

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