Bloemfontein: Creating a safe and secure learning environment at institutions of higher learning is a priority for the Ministry of Police because this is where the future of our Country lies. Speaking at the launch of the Campus Community Safety Forum, Deputy Minister of Police, Mr. Cassel Mathale says ensuring that young people actively participate in safety initiatives will go a long way in preventing and combatting crime in this space.
According to South African Police Service, the SAPS continues to engage with institutions of higher learning across the country in order to establish safety structures in the form of Campus Community Safety Forums (CCSF), which are essentially a collective effort to fight crime in institutions of higher learning.
Today, the Deputy Minister led the launch of the Campus Community Safety Team at the University of the Free State. He was joined by the MEC of Safety in the province, Mr. Jabu Mbalula, the Acting Deputy National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa, and the Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motsweenyane. The Vice Chancellor of the University was also present and welcomed the safety committee.
‘We require a whole of government approach to win the war against crime. Safety is not the responsibility of the SAPS alone. We require early interventions, active public and community participation and that is why we are here to launch these campus community safety teams so that jointly we all have a role to play to create safer spaces in institutions of higher learning,’ said DM Mathale.
The launch of these campus community safety teams aims to combat criminality in all forms at institutions of higher learning.
‘The launch of the safety campus safety initiative marks a new chapter in our collective effort to make UFS a model of security and excellence. We are not just implementing policies, we are building a community where students feel protected, supported, and free to pursue their aspirations,’ said MEC Jabu Mbalula.
Representatives from other institutions of higher learning also attended the launch, and Deputy Minister Mathale challenged them to emulate the UFS by also rolling out the campus community safety programme at other institutions of higher learning.