UP assures students that their safety remains a priority

The University of Pretoria has assured students and parents that safety on campus remains a top priority.

Earlier parents had raised concerns over their children’s safety at the university amid the ongoing protest over SRC elections.

University spokesperson Rikus Delport said the campuses were currently peaceful, adding that all operations were running as normal.

“The safety and security of our students remains our utmost priority, and we are committed to taking every possible measure to maintain a secure environment,” Delport said.

He further said that the institution was aware of the incidents of intimidation and threats outside the Hatfield campus gate.

“The university strongly condemns any form of violence and intimidation and is fully committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

“Our campus security team is actively collaborating with police to address these concerns and maintain a secure environment for everyone.”

However, a visibly frustrated parent Vicky Schnetler said the situation was out of hand and that on Tuesday student protesters blockaded roads to the university.

Schnetler said this frustrated her as she felt she was sending her children to war as opposed to a place where they got an education.

“I don’t feel my children are safe. On Sunday my daughter was mugged off her cellphone at the campus, hence I am here in Pretoria. I reside in Durban but because of what had happened to my daughter I came all the way from there.”

The protest started weeks ago when AfriForum Youth petitioned for the university to expel and de-register the EFF student command.

AfriForum had accused the student command of racially dividing students as well as intimidation, among other things.

EFF student command member Nqobile Mhlongo told Rekord that AfriForum’s sole purpose was to fight for racism to go unabated.

Mhlongo said her organisation only sought to fight for the rights of all students to access free quality education.

“Ours is to lead an SRC that will be socialist in approach. The only organisation that seeks to divide students racially is the AfriForum, they have proven this time and again.”

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