Varsity Round-up 18 May 2012
Safety at University of Limpopo under scrutiny
A Star reporter showed up security on the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop campus on Friday May 11 by walking on to campus with a knife and a toy gun.
Moloko Moloto had a 36cm-long knife tied to his leg underneath his jeans, and a toy gun tucked in the back of his pants, and walked into campus unhindered.
Despite the fact that guns and knives are strictly prohibited on campus, Moloto was not searched. He claims that security guards “simply allowed strangers to walk in”.
Earlier this month, students allegedly killed campus thug Lekau Mamaboloon, and assaulted seven of his friends. Students assaulted the men as they reportedly attempted to rob the students. University management said the men were not students and had been on campus illegally.
Last month, a law student was stabbed to death just outside campus.
A shooting last year prompted the university to install metal detectors at the entrances to campus. However, they were removed a month later.
University spokesman Kgalema Mohuba said he did not know that the metal detectors had been removed, and blamed the external security company, Mafoko Security Services.
Mafoko Security Services declined comment.
UFS rector wants pass mark raised to 50%
University of the Free State rector Jonathan Jansen criticised the teaching standards in South Africa on May 10, saying pupils should be expected to receive 50% in order to pass.
Jansen was speaking at a meeting of Umalusi, the council that sets and supervises standards for general and further education and training.
He said universities could no longer accept the low standards set by the current education system. Post-apartheid education did not cater for the poor, rural child, he said, and many schools had untrained teachers and were exceptionally badly run.
Published in Vuvuzela print edition, 18 May 2102
Related articles:
Varsity Round-up 21 April 2012
Varsity Round-up 29 March 2012
