Nelson Mandela University has announced a raft of additional security measures that will be immediately implemented on all its campuses.
This followed the rape of a female student and the stabbing of another woman at NMU’s computer laboratory on Monday night.
The suspect is still at large.
The announcement by Nelson Mandela University of increased security measures followed a protest by students who demanded better security after the incident.
NMU said the University “was extremely shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident and expressed solidarity with students around safety concerns and challenges related to the scourge of gender-based violence.”
“Both students are receiving counselling and other necessary support, as are others traumatised by the horrific incident,” NMU said.
Among the measures to be immediately announced are:
•Heightening security by increasing the number of staff to undertake visible patrolling across all campuses, including all teaching venues, from now until the end of exams
•Expanding its partnership with SAPS and the Metro Police so as to attain extra support for our students in and around our campuses, particularly on Second Avenue and Missionvale
•Improvement of the CCTV monitoring
•Undertake control checks at entrances, taxi drop-off points and bus stops
•Undertake an audit of all the external campus lighting
•Extending its anti-crime initiatives with the Summerstrand Community Crime Forum, especially towards the establishment of safe off-campus “green route” that will be monitored and patrolled.
NMU said medium and long-term security efforts were also raised and will be driven by the establishment of a joint Campus Safety and Security Task Team towards reviewing security systems and identifying enhancements.
“This team will include students, who have been invited to send representatives,”NMU said.
Staff and students have also been advised to have their identity cards with them at all times as part of the immediate safety improvements on all our campuses going forward.
