With Stellenbosch University (SU) being an open campus, the safety of students could be easily compromised.
This is according to Abongile Quthu, vice president of the SU student representative council (SRC) and masters student in intercultural communication.
For this reason, a self-defence seminar aimed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to defend and protect themselves from attacks was hosted by SU’s SRC, said Quthu.
The Stellenbosch University student representative council (SRC) has been made aware of numerous instances where commuting students encounter safety issues, claimed Abongile Quthu, SRC vice president and masters student in intercultural communication. PHOTO: Lara Smith
Avoidance and awareness
The most important thing that is communicated to participants in the self-defence seminar is to avoid harmful situations and have awareness of their surroundings, according to Jonathan Williams, a sensei from the South African Japanese Karate Association (JKA) karate and the safety instructor of the seminar held on 29 August.
Many people come to an hour and a half long self-defence lesson and have a false sense of security, according to Williams.
“[They] think they are now Superman or Wonder Woman, but it’s not the reality. You have to practise, practise, practise in order for these things to be effective,” said Williams.
The course that Williams teaches to the participants consists of the most basic self-defence practices, he said.
The safety instructors employed for a self-defence seminar hosted by Stellenbosch University’s student representative council have previously been contacted by female residences to conduct safety seminars, according to Jonathan Williams, a sensei from the South African Japanese Karate Association (JKA) karate and the safety instructor of the seminar. PHOTO: Lara Smith
Process of participation
Campus Security aided the SRC in getting in contact with safety instructors to carry out the seminar held in the VV hall of the Neelsie, according to Andile Ntshidi, SRC safety and security manager and a third-year BCom (Financial Accounting) student.
“This is a continuous activity to ensure we promote safety,” said Quthu.
“Sometimes we are not able to reach the largest student population, so we do it in small groups,” said Quthu.
There were close to 30 students that attended the seminar, according to Ntshidi.
“I would like to educate and empower myself,” said Jessica Kleinbooi, third-year BA (Humanities) student at Stellenbosch University (SU) and a participant in the self-defence seminar held at SU on 29 August. PHOTO: Lara Smith
Eye-opening experience
The seminar was an eye-opening experience for Jessica Kleinbooi, a third-year BA (Humanities) student and a participant in the seminar, who claimed that it made her aware that she would like to attend similar workshops to educate herself.
“Throughout the whole session I was just thinking this stuff can happen so easily, so I definitely want to empower myself more,” said Kleinbooi.
Meanwhile, Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson, said the SU is continuously creating awareness and addressing safety concerns on campus in conjunction with other security role players in town. The university also calls on students, staff and the public to remain watchful and to be vigilant and active partners in campus safety, Viljoen said in email correspondence with SMF News.