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Safety on campus: Get to know the UFS Emergency Protocol guide

19 February 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo SUPPLIED

The University of the Free State (UFS) recognises the importance of equipping its students and staff with the necessary support to handle a spectrum of emergencies in today's rapidly changing world. The comprehensive UFS Emergency Protocol guide offers valuable insights, from general information to specific rules, for use during crises and when crimes occur.

The guide ensures that individuals are informed about emergency contacts, communicable diseases, and safety measures on and off campus. The protocol creates a framework for how to respond during times of crisis and includes guidelines for navigating robberies, shootouts, attacks, protests, cyber threats, evacuations, and other emergencies.

Users will find various contact numbers for divisions to contact within UFS Protection Services depending on the nature of your emergency.

Prioritising your safety

Jacobus Van Jaarsveld, Deputy Director at Protection Services, emphasised the university's commitment to the well-being of its community. "Your safety and security are important to us, and we are working hard to create a safe work and study environment with your assistance – as safety starts with you," he said. To achieve this, the UFS has compiled tips and resources within the guide to minimise risk across its three campuses.

Van Jaarsveld said fostering awareness of emergency protocols is crucial, as it helps UFS community members make informed decisions, utilise resources effectively, and it helps prevent fatalities and injuries. The guide contributes to enhancing the overall preparedness of both staff and students for potential emergencies. Equipped with the ability to make informed choices, individuals can significantly accelerate the recovery process after an emergency.

“The main reason for creating awareness of any crisis or emergency is to do as much as possible to keep staff and students safe in case of a disaster,” added Thato Block, Deputy Director at UFS Facilities Planning. “The confusion during an emergency or a crisis can make a bad situation worse and put lives at risk. If a crisis or emergency is mismanaged or neglected, it can lead to a disaster.”

Remain calm

The UFS Emergency Protocol underscores a primary guideline in the face of any crisis: remaining calm. Individuals facing an emergency are advised to keep breathing deeply, evaluate the situation, and discern potential threats. The protocol encourages prompt calls to designated emergency numbers, raising alarms if necessary, and attentive listening to instructions from crisis managers and relevant authorities. Ultimately, adhering to safety protocols by moving to secure locations ensures a comprehensive and effective response to emergencies.

Emergency contact list

Bloemfontein Campus Protection Services 24/7 Duty Room: +27 51 401 2911 or +27 51 401 2634
South Campus Protection Services 24/7 Duty Room: +27 51 505 1217
Qwaqwa Campus Protection Services 24/7 Duty Room: +27 58 718 5460 or +27 51 718 5175

Download the Emergency Protocol:

Click here to read more on the following:

Three important rules during any crisis
Four important rules during any crime
Emergency contact list
Other communicable diseases
Medical emergency
Mental health emergency
On-campus safety
Off-campus safety
Assault in areas besides your home
Gender-based violence and sexual assault
Situational awareness: personal safety
Safety when travelling
Kidnapping and human trafficking
Robbery, shootout, or attack
Protests and labour unrest
Safety in the workplace
Evacuation
Fire
Flooding
Infestation
Water cuts
Hazardous material and lab safety
Hostage situation
Bomb threat
Explosion
Road traffic accident
Earthquake or structural collapse
Cyber safety
Alternative contact numbers for Protection Services

In addition, QR codes linked to the booklet will be installed by the University Estates inside buildings and residences across all three campuses.

WATCH: Safety first: UFS Emergency Protocol

Student and staff safety are highlighted in this video related to security matters at the University of the Free State. The university is dedicated to creating a safe environment for all.

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News Archive

UFS finances are fundamentally sound

2007-12-01

The finances of the University of the Free State (UFS) remain fundamentally sound and a higher than expected surplus of about R26 million was achieved in the 2007 budget.

This announcement was made last week during the last meeting of the UFS Council by Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor.

“Up to now, we could finance the considerable investments in the infrastructure from discretionary funds, in spite of the fact that Council granted us permission during 2005/06 to take up a loan of R50 million for this purpose,” said Prof. Fourie.

The higher than expected surplus of about R26 million will be used among other things for the financing of infrastructure in order to further postpone the taking up of a loan.

In support of the drive to reposition the UFS nationally as a university that is successfully integrating excellence and diversity, R5 million will be made available from the surplus for this purpose.

The Council also approved the following allocations for 2008 for the key strategic pillars of a good practice budget for the university:

Information sources: R21,1 million
IT infrastructure: R3,5 million
Replacing expensive equipment: R7,05 million
Research: R18,1 million
Capital expenditure: R28,2 million
Maintenance capital assets: R18,2 million
Reserves: R6,3 million
Personal computers for the computer laboratory: R3,5 million

For the Qwaqwa Campus R2,5 million has been set aside for these issues.

In terms of strategic priorities R8 million was allocated for the academic clusters, R2 million for equitability, diversity and redress and R6 million for equity.

The projected income for 2008 will be R849 million, while the projected expenditure, excluding transfers, will be R694 million.

“Council further approved that discretionary strategic funds be largely voted to the further upgrading of the physical infrastructure, especially the Chemistry Building, the computer laboratory building, examination venues and the Joolkol,” said Prof. Fourie.

According to Prof. Fourie, funds have been reserved for the development of the academic clusters, as well as the continuation and acceleration of the transformation programme of the UFS.

“We have also managed to revise the conditions of employment of contract appointments and align it with the latest labour practices. The phasing in of the fringe benefits of this specific group of staff members will commence in 2008,” said Prof. Fourie.

Given the dependence of the income of the UFS on student numbers, a task team was formed last year to investigate the continued financial sustainability of the UFS. The core of this task team’s recommendations is:

to increase the third income stream by using the academic clusters as the main strategy; and to apply strategies such as the recruitment and extension of the postgraduate and foreign student corps, increase the income from donations and fundraising, etc.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
30 November 2007

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