Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has expressed concern at the crime levels in and around the university precincts of Johannesburg (UJ) and other places in the country. This follows a shooting incident in which a UJ student was killed last week on Thursday, 29 February 2024, after a bus in which he and other students were travelling was caught in the crossfire in Braamfontein. Another student is recovering in hospital after sustaining wounds.
On Monday, 4 March 2024, Minister Nzimande visited the university, where he met the family of the deceased student. “Here are students coming from a university, and then a stray bullet hits them. This is tragic. This is also a concern to me because violence in society is also affecting the violence in the universities. Of course, this shows that as a society and a government, we really have a challenge to intensify the struggle against violence,” said Dr Nzimande, who was flanked by UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi and Dr Vukuza, Senior Executive Director, University Relations, UJ Students and UJ Sport.
Dr Nzimande expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of an 18-year-old second-year Bachelor of Commerce Accounting student, who was also a beneficiary of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). “This (the deceased student) was a young person with a bright future who was going to change the life circle of his family and community. This was a future CFO, whose mother is a domestic worker… Of course, I can identify with this, as a parent with children at university. When we send our children to university, we want to fetch them in their gowns.”
Thanking UJ for the manner in which the Institution responded to the tragedy, Dr Nzimande said: “UJ has in fact done very well to interact with the family and provide psychosocial support to other students.”
Prof Mpedi echoed the Minister’s sentiments regarding student safety in and around campuses. “The safety and security on and off campus is a serious issue that requires attention. If we work together as institutions of higher learning and society, we can help (curb the scourge of crime). He again expressed condolences to the family of the deceased student and wished the student in hospital a speedy recovery. “As a University, we will assure you Minister that we will continue to support the family of the deceased.”
