ENCOURAGING SAFER HABITS WITHIN UNIVERSITY SPACES AND BEYOND

Shanell Binedell

@shanell_lalala

 

The North-West University (NWU) was proudly recognised as the safest university in South Africa in 2021, according to the StuDocu World University Rankings. However, Protection Services has recently noted a concerning rise in incidents on campus. Reports have highlighted an increase in bicycle, cellphone and laptop theft, and car accidents caused by speeding on campus grounds.

 

Tebogo Lebitse from Priority Incident Investigation (PII) shed light on the worrying trends and pointed to two main issues contributing to the rise in crime: student negligence and the failure to report incidents. According to Lebitse, students have grown too comfortable, often leaving their belongings unattended in public areas such as libraries, cafeterias, and study halls. This carelessness has opened the door for opportunistic theft.

 

One of the more persistent issues is bicycle theft. While many students lock up their bicycles, Lebitse warns that thieves are using bolt cutters to break through standard locks. He strongly advises students against leaving their bicycles outside overnight. “Residences have space inside or in the basement where students can safely store their bicycles,” he notes, encouraging students to use these safer alternatives.

 

Lebitse also cautions students against overestimating the safety of Potchefstroom itself. Although NWU remains one of the safest campuses in the country, crime does not stop at the university gates. Students are advised to avoid walking outside campus premises after dark and to always remain aware of their surroundings.

 

Another serious concern raised by Lebitse is bullying on campus. “This is seen as a serious offence, and in the past, we have expelled students for bullying,” he says. Protection Services take these cases seriously, with dedicated investigators focused on handling sensitive incidents such as bullying, harassment, gender-based violence, racism, and sexual offences.

 

Protection Services play a much broader role than simply responding to crime. Their work includes everything from access management and asset protection to traffic control, locksmith services, incident response, and disaster recovery. Their team conducts regular building patrols and works proactively to prevent incidents before they happen.

 

One of the less obvious, but equally important, issues is the failure to report lost student access cards. Lebitse explains that if a student doesn’t report a missing card, Protection Services can’t block it — meaning someone else could find it and gain unauthorised access to university facilities. This small oversight can quickly escalate into a serious security risk.

 

Lebitse stresses that safety is a shared responsibility. While the university does its part through ongoing safety measures and the work of Protection Services, students must also take active steps to protect themselves and others. Staying alert, taking precautions, and reporting anything unusual can go a long way in ensuring NWU remains a safe and secure learning environment for everyone.

 

Picture of the Protection Services Insignia on Potchefstroom Campus (Source: Shanell Bindell)

Edited by Isabel Burgers and Mhlengi Khumalo