VANDERBIJLPARK – A growing wave of robberies and break-ins targeting students in private and NSFAS-accredited accommodation has raised serious safety concerns around the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).
The DA Student Organisation (DASO) VUT branch reported receiving alarming accounts from student victims.
“These incidents represent a growing crisis that threatens the safety, dignity, and academic success of our student community,” said DASO spokesperson Nsuku Mahlophe.
Mahlophe questioned how several NSFAS-accredited facilities continue to receive accreditation despite allegedly lacking adequate security measures, leaving students highly vulnerable.
In response, VUT spokesperson Sibusiso Nkosi acknowledged the anxieties but noted that the challenges are part of a broader crime wave affecting the wider Bedworth Park, SE7, and surrounding communities.
Students living in off-campus accommodation have reportedly experienced break-ins, theft of personal belongings, and other criminal activities, creating fear and uncertainty among residents.
In such an incident, a VUT student was stabbed and killed at the eSipheto student residence, Block BB, located near the campus.
It is alleged that the attack involved a caretaker at the NSFAS-accredited accommodation facility.
Meanwhile, DASO says it has already started engaging directly with affected students to better understand the extent of the problem.
To combat this wave of crime, Nkosi highlighted the university’s active measures to protect its student body.
“VUT has strengthened collaboration with the SAPS increased security visibility and patrols in student-populated areas, enhanced emergency response mechanisms and intensified engagement with student leadership structures regarding safety concerns,” he said.
The organisation believes the matter requires urgent intervention from both university stakeholders and accommodation providers to ensure students can pursue their studies in a safe environment.
DASO has called for greater public attention and accountability, warning that student safety cannot be compromised.
NSFAS Spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said, “NSFAS wishes to assure students and parents that we are unwavering in our commitment to student safety. We encourage students to promptly report any concerns or incidents to their institution, accommodation provider, or NSFAS directly.”
“We are continuously strengthening our partnerships with universities, accommodation providers, and law enforcement to ensure that all NSFAS-accredited residences are safe, secure, and conducive to learning. The safety of every student entrusted to NSFAS-accredited accommodation is non-negotiable, and we will continue to act decisively to uphold this standard,” he said.
