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29 April 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied
Protection Services Crime and Incident Investigation Proceedure
The UFS Crime and Incident Investigation Procedure is committed to maintaining campus safety.

In alignment to its strategic Vision 130 of fostering a safe and secure environment for all staff and students, the University of the Free State (UFS) introduced a robust Crime and Incident Investigation Procedure. This initiative underscores the institution's commitment to upholding its values of integrity, accountability, and excellence, while ensuring the well-being of its diverse community.

Jacobus van Jaarsveld, Deputy Director at Protection Services, highlighted the importance of this procedural framework, stating: “Our aim is to establish a culture of safety and accountability within the university community. By implementing this procedure, we are reaffirming our dedication to prompt and thorough investigations of all reported incidents.”

Comprehensive coverage and scope

The Procedure encompasses all UFS students, staff members, visitors, contractors, and service providers across multiple campuses and satellite sites. It addresses incidents occurring both on-campus and off-campus if they affect the university’s reputation or assets.

Ethical and professional investigations

All investigations are conducted with professionalism, impartiality, and adherence to legal and ethical standards. The principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is upheld, respecting the rights and freedoms of all individuals involved.

Students, staff members, and other stakeholders are obligated to familiarise themselves with the Procedure, promptly report incidents, cooperate with investigators, and comply with university policies and codes of conduct.

Inclusive and collaborative approach

The Procedure emphasises the importance of inclusivity, ensuring that investigative processes accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities. It also highlights the establishment of interdepartmental service level agreements to facilitate collaboration and information-sharing among relevant departments.

Continuous improvement and monitoring

The UFS will monitor reported incidents through regular updates and crime overviews. Additionally, ongoing evaluation and refinement of the Procedure will be based on crime statistics, security risk assessments, and best practices in investigative management.

In conclusion, the implementation of the Crime and Incident Investigation Procedure represents a significant step forward in the UFS’s ongoing efforts to create a safe, supportive, and conducive environment for learning, teaching, and research. Through proactive measures and steadfast adherence to principles of integrity and accountability, the university reaffirms its commitment to excellence in all aspects of university life.

Report crime

Bloemfontein Campus Protection Services: +27 51 401 2911 or +27 51 401 2634
South Campus Protection Services: +27 51 505 1217 
Qwaqwa Campus Protection Services: +27 58 718 5460 or +27 58 718 5175

Click here to download the Crime and Incident Investigation Procedure booklet and watch the video below.

News Archive

‘Your capacity for change is limitless’
2013-09-13

 

Ready for the world - students taking part in the 2013 Leadership for Change programme getting ready to travel to universities in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Photo: Johan Roux
12 September 2013

 “You will change this campus, city, country, continent and the world, because you have the capacity for greatness,” Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS), said.

He addressed the 2013 group of first-year students in the Leadership for Change programme at a farewell function before they will leave for universities abroad. The first 104 students from the 2013 total of 144 will depart on 18 September and return on 3 October 2013. The second group of 40 students will be abroad from 11 to 25 January 2014. The students are from the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses. They will be accompanied by mentors from the UFS.

The students will visit 17 universities in the USA, Europe and Asia.

The first 71 first-year students in the Leadership for Change programme were sent abroad for two weeks in September 2010 to get intense exposure to the academic, social, cultural and residential lives of students in the USA. In 2011 the student number more than doubled and universities in Europe were included. In July 2012 the programme brought students from around the globe to the UFS for the Global Leadership Summit.

Prof Jansen inspired the young leaders, saying, “If you learn leadership values in your four years of study, a change will come. Build the new value system and take it into the country. Your capacity for change is limitless.”

He encouraged them to learn to know the stranger, not only abroad, but also the beggar at the street corner. “Learn to be comfortable with the beggar, as well as with the professor in the classroom.”

A stringent evaluation and training programme preceded the group’s visit abroad, and Prof Jansen could not formulate their achievement better: “I cannot tell you how proud I am of you.”

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