Question NW701 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
15 March 2023 - NW701
Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Following reports of eight murders of Post School Education and Training (PSET) students at various campuses and escalating murders, robberies and rapes at PSET sectors and campuses, what steps is his department taking along with the institutions to address safety concerns?
Reply:
Safety and security at public universities has long been a matter of concern in South Africa. It is well-known that our universities are sometimes confronted by enormous challenges of violence which include brutal murder of female students in both universities and TVET colleges spaces.
Since 2019 the Department of Higher Education and Training has been engaging with universities, Universities South Africa, South African Police Services and Campus Protection Society of Southern Africa (CAMPROSA) to address safety concerns at universities. Protocols were developed for securing direct intervention by SAPS, including interdicts issued by courts.
The Department also committed to work with USAf and universities to improve the capacity of institutions to maintain peace and keep campuses safe and secure. Universities were requested to submit their plans to enhance safety and security on their campuses and residences including all safety-related initiatives. The aim was to identify urgent matters that need to be addressed at institutions including the need to improve the capacity of institutions to maintain peace and keep campuses safe and secure. The plans submitted were analysed. Funds have been made available in the Infrastructure Efficiency Grant (IEG) for safety and security projects submitted by universities to the Department.
The University Education Branch convened a meeting with the Heads of Security to understand and assess the different threats experienced by universities and collectively identify interventions that can be implemented immediately, as well as medium- and long-term. Amongst others, it was suggested that a Policy Framework which will serve as a guiding instrument for developing policies by universities should be developed. The framework will outline basic norms and standards that should be included in institutional policies.
A national security audit to ascertain the state of safety and security at universities is underway. The study seeks to determine the existence of security measures on campuses, what the university populace think of the current security situation, and what university management has done to promote safety and security.
In addition, following the series of callous murders at the University of Fort Hare a decision was made to establish a National Task Force (NTF) which will assist in the development of intervention strategies to assist with campus safety and other security measures.