Cape Town - A UWC Political Studies and Public Administration final-year student has pleaded for increased security measures around the Belhar Erica precinct following his harrowing ordeal after he and his friends were allegedly robbed at gunpoint near their campus.
Zeke Wareley, 21, said he felt lucky to be alive after two men got out of a vehicle and robbed his friend of a cellphone and fled with his cellphone and jacket on October 23.
It was unexpected, but it was no secret that students have been targeted the past few months, ranging from robberies to attempted kidnappings, he said.
“We went to buy food at the Erica Square shopping centre. On the way back we took a different route.
As we approached the campus gate a white car stopped in front of us. Two men climbed out.
At first we didn’t expect anything because they greeted us, but when one came to me and another to my friend we knew we were going to be robbed.”
Wareley said because their other friend was a woman and (when) they saw a gun they didn’t resist.
“They searched us and took what they wanted.
My female friend was robbed of her phone the past week so they took nothing from her and drove off. We suspect they followed us without us noticing “Campus protection services (CPS) assisted in opening a case with police.
We have not received any counselling to date. This has been very emotional but friends and family have been supportive.
Noting the crime rate in the province and violence against women, we are grateful to be alive and that they didn’t hurt our female friend,” said Wareley.
“We have a student WhatsApp group where students share their ordeals.
We really hope police, law-enforcement and campus protection work together to ensure the safety of students,” said Wareley.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said an armed robbery case was under investigation. A suspect was yet to be arrested. Traut said robbery hotspots in Belhar were frequently patrolled by the police units to minimise crime risks.
UWC spokesperson Gasant Abarder confirmed UWC CPS was made aware of the incident, however it was not reported directly to the CPS.
“The incident occurred outside the campus far from our boundaries. The safety of all students, wherever they are, is our priority.
Security and safety outside of the university main and satellite campuses and its residences are beyond the ambit and resource capacity of university security.
Campus Protection Services is responsible for safety and security and therefore operates on the entire main and satellite campuses and its residences.”
Cape Times
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