A DUT student was left stranded and in tears last Wednesday after her car was stolen while parked in a lot between the Durban University of Technology's Steve Biko and ML Sultan campus off Ritson Road.
Sarah Comb, (*not her real name) has lived on the Berea for two years while studying at DUT. Last week she experienced crime firsthand when her white Toyota Yaris was stolen.
“I had parked outside the ML Sultan building off campus. I park there on a weekly basis as I attend campus and lectures. This particular parking bay, although it is attached to the premises of the University, is not actually part of DUT property, which I was only made aware of after the incident. As a result M-I-7 (security at DUT) was unable to assist me as this area does not fall under their jurisdiction of responsibility and so referred me to SAPS.
Sarah parked her car at 8.20am on Wednesday morning and returned a few hours later to find it gone. “I was utterly traumatised. My car, my laptop, documents and everything that was personal to me was in the car. The parking spot has a kiosk with three security guards stationed there who monitor students coming in and out of the campus. They are positioned at the parking bay in their uniform and appear to be monitoring the vehicles parked there. Unfortunately, none of them witnessed anybody breaking into or taking off with my car. They took no responsibility as they said it was a public parking space,” she said disappointed.
With all her family back home in Namibia the student went to Berea SAPS to report her vehicle. “It has been a very disconcerting ordeal. It has been disruptive for me because I am writing exams and my family is away and all my vital work and assignments, actually all my data and information from the past few years is on my laptop,” she said.
Sarah hopes other students will learn from her experience and become more aware of the “parking lot” which students believe is safe and part of the campus. “I feel that if the university cared about all their students’ safety, it shouldn’t matter whether I have a disc or not and whether I parked in their restricted or a public parking which is actually attached to their premises! I have since had a face-to-face sit down with the Vice-Chancellor who was sympathetic about the incident and said they would look into the matter. However, I don’t know what kind of action will be taken and how far they will take it,” she said.
Sarah said the most disappointing part was that the university failed to make students aware of the parking stipulations in the area. “I feel that I have been neglected and think that this is a big safety issue. I have lost my car and this could have been avoided if people knew where not to park and which parking was not allocated to DUT.
Sarah hoped the Municipality and DUT would take responsibility and action after her car as well as two others were taken from the same lot over the past weeks. “They need to put up signage to designate that specific area of Ritson Road as a public space and that people park at their own risk,” she said.
Berea police are investigating.
