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Speaker notes for the Acting Deputy National Commissioner: Support Services, Lt Gen L Nkhuoa Ministerial Campus Safety Launch and roll out of Learning Environment Safety Framework University of the Free State: Bloemfontein Thursday, 13 March 2025 _________________________________________________________ Thank you Programme Director,
➢ The Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale MP Good morning, Dumelang Allow me to convey our warm greetings from the South African Police Service to this special occasion, of young men and women of the University of Free State, other neighbouring institutions and the academic fraternity of this province. Standing on this pedestal this morning elevates the glaring reality and the importance of the police programme that brings all of us together in this meeting. As we gather today, let’s make a shared commitment to fostering a safe and supportive campus environment for all students. Safety is not just the responsibility of security or campus officials; it is the responsibility of everyone. We must cultivate a culture of mutual respect, kindness, and care where everyone feels safe and supported. Today, we are seated with many young people who care about their safety and that of others. Indeed, the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. However, the future can be hampered by so many things along the way and that is why we are here today, to make sure our presence and the future of those still to come here is a safe and secure one. University campus safety is an important topic for students, faculty and visitors. Ensuring a safe environment involves a combination of campus policies, security measures and personal awareness. The South African Police Service, as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 is committed to create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa. We are required to collaborate with other stakeholders, including institutions of higher learning in order to deal with crime. Effective and regulated partnership is necessary between the SAPS and institutions of higher learning to promote the safety and security of the campus community. I am glad that that the Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale is spearheading this project as he is passionate about the safety of young people. Just two days ago, he was in Mpumalanga where he had mobilised various stakeholders to invest in the safety of young people. Topics such as bullying, teen pregnancy, suicide and focusing on education were key to Deputy Minister Mathale’s interaction. DM, we cannot thank you enough for spearheading this project. Thank you. Crime among young people in South Africa is a significant issue, influenced by factors such as poverty, unemployment, lack of education and social instability. Youth crimes include violent offenses such as robbery with weapons, theft and burglary and gang[1]related activities. Many gangs in South Africa exploit young people as runners to transport drugs, weapons or money and this is a worrisome trend to the SAPS. In March of 2022, we held a Learning Environment Safety Summit at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Mbombela Campus in Mpumalanga. The summit brought together various stakeholders responsible for safety in educational institutions in order to make order to make meaningful contributions. Emanating from that Learning Environment Safety Summit, the SAPS developed the Learning Environment Safety Framework (LESF) which was approved in 2023. We also established the Vice-Chancellor Forum, chaired by the SAPS’ Divisional Commissioner of Human Resource Development. So, consequently, the SAPS continues to engage with institutions of higher learning across the country in order to establish safety structures in the form of Campus Community Safety Forums (CCSF) which are essentially a collective effort to fight crime in institutions of higher learning. You all know the main security issues facing the UFS and the impact crime has on both students and staff. So, today we are all gathered here to launch the Campus Community Safety Forum and to roll out the Learning Environment Safety Framework at the University of the Free State. Mr Cobus van Jaarsveld will later on in the programme, explain to you what the Framework and the forum entail. Thank you all for being part of this important milestone in enhancing campus safety. Today’s launch marks a commitment to creating a safer, more secure environment for everyone. Your engagement, awareness and collaboration are key to making this initiative a success. As we move forward, let us continue to prioritise safety, look out for one another and use the resources available to us. Together, we can build a stronger more resilient campus community. So stay safe and stay informed. THANK YOU!
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