Lazarus Dithagiso

VANDERBIJLPARK. – A restaurant by day, a shebeen at night.

This is allegedly what is happening in the university precinct and results in the rape and murder of students.

A certain restaurant was pointed out by Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, and Sedibeng District General of Police, Zodwa Molefe.

The two said that this eatery has to be shut down with immediate effect.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday in the hall of the Vereeniging Police Station Molefe said they are concerned about the rape, abduction and murder of students. She said that the restaurant supplies students with alcohol after hours.

The officials warned that they would be raiding the restaurant and confiscating liquor. The minister and her entourage were subsequently joined by the police and other stakeholders in a 3km march against gender-based violence culminating in a safety dialogue on the impact of crime.

They marched through Bedworth Park. They later handed over 2000 pepper-spray cannisters and Memezela (whistles) to students for self defence and alarm purposes. During the event at the VUT amphitheatre, students said they were concerned that they were unsafe because they usually walked in the dark because of streets lights that don’t work.

They appealed for a mobile police station in the vicinity and said that police failed to arrest perpetrators even when given enough evidence.

“The issue of drugs is not taken seriously. There are hundreds of illegal shebeens but Police turn a blind eye,” said the students.

The students said that it is no good handing out pepper sprays and whistles instead of repairing street lights and potholes.

Nkosi – Malobane said that safety in the two institutions and surrounding areas is a serious concerns.

Police said, “In making sure students are safe, we distributed personal alarms to 2000 students. Those alarms will assist in makingstudents raise awareness for us to make arrests.”