VUT launches safety activation

Addressing the students: Constable Mothebele from the SAPS

Tebello Theledi

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has committed itself to keeping all students safe and so, on 23 February, the VUT Social Justice and Transformation held a safety activation at the VUT amphitheatre.

The basic premise for this activation was to reinforce the idea that everyone should think about safety especially all the new students who are in unfamiliar surroundings. People are encouraged to share in the responsibility for their own wellbeing.

Managing security on campus is a complex task for security teams. Their work extends from managing the physical security of the institution against things such as theft and threats; emergency response procedures as well as the health and well-being of students whose behaviour might put themselves or others in danger.

The first VUT safety activation brought together the South African Police Service, Gauteng Community Safety, VUT Protection Services, Sedibeng District Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, VUT Student Representative Council, Correctional Services, VUT Campus Clinic and HIV/AIDS Unit to discuss challenges that security teams have to face on a day-to-day basis with motivational talks and safety procedures to highlight some of the key challenges and solutions to improve the security of the campus and the safety to students.

Constable Mothebele from the SAPS urged students to be responsible for their own personal safety and the security of their personal belongings. “Student’s awareness of their environment and their surroundings is the best place to start,” she said. She furthermore encouraged everyone to avoid walking around at night with valuable items.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.

Concluding the event was Mr Chris Mahumane, the Legal and Transformation Officer of the VUT Student Representative Council (SRC), who informed the government officials present about all the issues faced by students and the solutions offered by VUT. Among these were the patrolling of safety officers around campus, navigation of hotspots and installation of speed humps.