INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
Ntombesizwe Mtimkulu. Photo: Neil Baynes
UWC students living at the Northlink hostel in Belhar claim they are under attack and do not feel safe in their rooms because of poor security at the hostel.
They say there have been several muggings and break-ins this year.
UWC says it is concerned by the reported crimes, and it, along with Northlink has worked to beef up security.
But the students are still frightened.
Ntombesizwe Mtimkulu, a second-year psychology student, said she and others were traumatised. She contacted the Cape Argus on behalf of a group of about 10 students, and acted as the group’s spokeswoman.
In September, Mtimkulu said, men tried to break into her and other students’ rooms and pounded on the doors around 2am.
“Last year my phone was stolen from me at knifepoint.”
Mtimkulu said some female students were so scared, they kept buckets in their rooms so that they didn’t have to leave their rooms to use the toilet.
Her friend was held up at gunpoint and sexually abused last month.
Earlier this year, a male student was beaten with a gun and had his laptop stolen.
Mtimkulu said she and the other students approached UWC but claimed it had not helped.
“It’s like the university does not care. We’re trying to stay on campus so that we’re safe.
“We’ve applied for (places in university residences) but didn’t get a response from the university.”
UWC spokesman Luthando Tyhalibongo said the university was concerned about reports of criminal activity at the hostel.
The university had responded by employing extra security to patrol the pathway between UWC and the Northlink hostel.
“The security patrols are done on foot with sniffer dogs and also on quadbikes between 8am and 6pm every day.
“The university has asked the SAPS and metro police to assist in constantly patrolling that area and residence overnight.”
Tyhalibongo said the university had applied for better lighting and a “crime monitoring camera” from the city.
“The university has also started a forum between UWC, CPUT, the SAPS and the Belhar Community Forum to tackle the criminal activities taking place.”
Northlink hostel manager Selwyn Rhoda said he was monitoring the situation.
“Northlink employed extra guards.
“We now have two guards patrolling the hostel area, and each block has been fitted with a tag point which the guards have to activate at regular intervals to monitor them.”
sibongakonke.mama@inl.co.za
Continued here:
Students living in fear at UWC hostel