By Khumo Makame
SAPS launched the 12th Campus Community Safety Forum at the Northern Cape Urban TVET College as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen safety and security at institutions of higher learning.
Launched in July 2026, the two-day programme brought together 35 student representatives, police officials and stakeholders to discuss campus safety, crime detection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), crowd management, student safety and mental health.
The Acting Head of Social Crime Prevention at National SAPS, Brigadier Miso Shumaane, said the Campus Community Safety Forum programme was first introduced in Mbombela in 2022, and has since expanded throughout the country.
“Campus security is very important because criminality is bound to affect the daily activities of both lecturers and students. Our objective is to ensure your protection, not only as students but for the entire University and TVET community. We are here to build relationships,” she said.
Shumaane indicated that the programme is built on six pillars and highlighted gambling as an emerging concern after the Department of Higher Education reported that some students were using their NSFAS allowances for gambling.
She also raised concerns about criminal hotspots surrounding campuses and called for collaborative interventions.
“AS SAPS, we are of the view that these forums are important in ensuring the safety of communities. The most common crimes across the country involve theft of personal belongings and money, while gender-based violence remains one of the biggest concerns for the police,” she remarked.
Francis Baard District Commissioner Major General Charlotte Makgari, said the forum was established to strengthen partnerships between SAPS, the college and the broader community.
“Safety is not the responsibility of the police alone. It is a collective responsibility involving communities, educational institutions and government. Our young people deserve a future free from substance abuse and other threats to their wellbeing,” she told delegates.
Northern Cape Urban TVET College Student Representative Council (SRC) president, Shauneeze Jonkers, welcomed the initiative, saying students had chosen to become “the ears and eyes” of the institution.
“To SAPS, your presence here today signifies that we are not alone. Let this forum not become another meeting where we merely sign attendance registers. Let it become a movement that saves lives, where education triumphs over fear. As young people, we are not just the leaders of tomorrow – we are partners in leadership today,” she said.
The second day’s programme was attended by Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, it focused on practical implementation strategies and strengthening partnerships between students, SAPS, college management and other stakeholders.
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