Rector of Maties assures AfriForum Youth of campus safety
The annual convocation meeting of the University of Stellenbosch (US), which takes place today, will progress peacefully according to Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-chancellor of the US. In a letter to AfriForum Youth dated 15 January 2016, Prof De Villiers gave the assurance that individual as well as general campus safety will prevail at the US during the meeting.
“The individual and general safety at universities across the country is a priority for AfriForum Youth. AfriForum Youth will not hesitate to take action if campus safety is once again repressed as a result of empty promises and maladministration,” said Bernard Pieters, Spokesperson for AfriForum Youth’s Maties branch.
In 2015, various cases were reported where the university was unsuccessful in assuring campus safety. Campus activities were amongst others disrupted by protests and processions and students feared for their lives. Such unsafe actions took place uninterrupted under the leadership of groups such as Open Stellenbosch. The management of the university took no action to ensure campus safety and AfriForum Youth was driven by necessity to take action by appointing a private security company at its own expense to safeguard the US campus.
After many allegations of potential disruption of the convocation meeting, amongst others, by groups such as Open Stellenbosch, Prof De Villiers confirmed to AfriForum Youth that the safety of the university’s students and personnel is a priority at all times and in all circumstances.
“It is a responsibility which we regard as very serious, and I can assure you that we do in fact have a safety plan at our disposal, that contingent plans are in place, and that we are ready for the new year – including the immediate challenges concerning welcoming, registration and the convocation meeting, which is around the corner,” explained Prof De Villiers in his letter to AfriForum Youth.
AfriForum Youth regards campus safety in a serious light and will hold the campus management of the University of Stellenbosch accountable for the responsibility they acknowledged to ensure campus safety.
