University of Cape Town / Current students / Health, counselling & safety

Campus safety

Overview

Campus Protection Services (CPS) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CPS is committed to protecting the safety of the university community and its property, as well as maintaining order in accordance with university policy.

The staff is available at all times to give assistance.

CPS operates from six service centres:

Burnage House - adjacent to Leo Marquard Hall, in Burnage Road, just off Main Road, Rosebank
Upper Campus - Robert Leslie Social Sciences Building, University Avenue
Middle Campus - Kramer Building
Medical Campus - Barnard Fuller Building
Forest Hills Residence - Main Road, Mowbray
Hiddingh Campus - Orange Street, Cape Town

The CPS 24-hour hotline is 021 650 2222/3
(use the last four digits only if calling from a UCT extension)

CPS has a simple but comprehensive four-pronged approach to campus security and safety.

Presence - the uniformed staff maintain a high profile while patrolling the campus on foot and in vehicles, and their presence acts as a positive deterrent against potential criminal actions.

Engineering - this involves all physical equipment that has been installed to enhance security effectiveness, such as fencing, gates, CCTV.

Education - through regular communication with the community as well as meetings and workshops with students and staff, CPS strives to ensure that there is awareness of security issues, and also provides advice on how to deal with various situations.

Enforcement - in extraordinary circumstances CPS is empowered to take whatever appropriate action is necessary to maintain order and security on campus.

While CPS works to provide an effective service, the university community is a large one and members are encouraged to assist by anticipating and recognising a crime or safety risk, and involving CPS in the implementation of some action, either to reduce or to eliminate that risk.

CPS staff is highly trained and, in the unfortunate circumstances of a crime being committed against anyone in the UCT community, are competent in dealing with the practical and legal aspects, such as first-aid and what to do in a case of sexual assault.

Crime prevention

The best way for students and staff to prevent crime is to be aware of their surroundings, and particularly the people in their environment.

Criminals rely on the community being indifferent.

Students and staff are encouraged to be alert for suspicious persons in and around campus buildings and in parking areas.

They should ask themselves questions such as:

Are they hanging around for no apparent reason?
Are they looking into cars as they walk through the parking areas?
Are they going from room to room trying doorknobs?
Are they carrying valuable property from buildings after normal working hours?

If they suspect anything, they should call CPS immediately on 021 650 2222/3.

Pursuing suspicious persons is strongly discouraged.

If you are the victim of a crime

Using the crime-prevention techniques suggested may reduce the chances of becoming a victim. If confronted with a threatening situation the following is important

No material possession is worth endangering one's life for.
If confronted by a criminal who is armed, or claims to be armed, give up your property immediately.
Use your judgement of the particular situation and do anything to stay alive.
At the first opportunity, contact CPS at 021 650 2222/3.

Protecting your property

Theft is the most common crime on campus. The best means of prevention is to reduce or remove the opportunity.
Whenever you leave your office, laboratory or residence, lock the door and close windows.
Never leave access doors propped open.
When storing a purse or a wallet in the office, lock it in a seldom-used filing cabinet.
Do not leave any backpack or bags in open public places unsupervised, especially in cafeterias and libraries.
Keep a record of serial numbers and descriptions of your valuables.
Engrave your property, preferably with your driver's licence number.
Never leave items on display inside your car while it is parked.
Invest in a steering wheel- or gear-lock.
Lock your door and windows even when leaving the room for a short time.

In residence

Keep emergency numbers next to your phone or fixed on your desk.
Secure your door and window when you are alone and while you are asleep.
Do not leave house keys hidden in a traditional location, such as under the doormat.
Do not put your home address on your key ring.
Get to know your neighbours. You can keep an eye on each other's rooms when you are not there.
Call 021 650 2222/3 to report suspicious persons or activities in or around your neighbourhood if you live on UCT premises.
Do not leave any messages on your door to indicate that you will be away for any length of time.
Do not keep large sums of money inside your room.
Take your valuables home when you go on vacation.

Protecting yourself

When walking

Remember you are safer when walking in a group, especially at night.
Get into the habit of being escorted by a security official when walking late at night within UCT premises.
Practise using the "Blue Safe Walk" when walking on university property. You have the advantage of being close to the emergency phones and the area is monitored by surveillance cameras.
Avoid walking in dark and deserted areas and stay away from short cuts.

When driving

Avoid parking your car in isolated areas.
Lock all possessions in the boot.
Have your car key ready when approaching your car.
Lock your door as soon as you get into your car.
Drive on well-travelled streets and never pick up hitchhikers.
If you think you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station, shop or business to seek help.
If your car breaks down, open your boot or bonnet, if it is safe to do so, then stay inside your locked car and use your cell phone to call an emergency service, or wait until someone comes to assist. When a person stops to help you, do not get out; instead, ask them to call for professional help.

Shuttle services

The Jammie Shuttle provides convenient and safe bus transport between UCT's campuses and residences during term time.

Not only does it provide a constant service during the day from Monday to Friday from 07h30 to 18h00, but it also operates a night service from Monday to Thursday from 18h30 to 01h00 and on Friday from 18h30 to 22h00.

Pick up points

Leo Marquard / Tugwell
Forest Hills / Varietas Residence
Liesbeek Gardens
Clarinus
Medical School
Hiddingh Hall

The Jammie Shuttle offices are based on the lower campus near Leo Marquard Residence.

For more information, contact them on 021 689 3496 or 021 685 7135 or view the Jammie Shuttle webpages.

Safe escort service

In the event that the Jammie Shuttle does not function (after 01h00), assistance is offered to students and staff by escorting them on foot or giving them a lift from campus to their residences.

However it important to understand that Jammie Shuttle's core function on campus is not individual transportation of patrons, therefore some patience is required for delays when officers may be attending to other problems.

Sexual assault and rape

A sexual assault is not always perpetrated by a stranger.

It can happen on a date or by someone known to the victim.

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, know who to call for a ride home, or always have money for a taxi.

Please note that the more you consume alcoholic beverages, the less aware and more vulnerable you will become.

In the case of a sexual assault, the following action is recommended:

Call the CPS office immediately at 021 650 2222/3. CPS officers are trained in dealing with these types of situation, allow them to assist.
Call a friend or relative for support.
Ensure that the matter is reported to the local South African Police Service (SAPS) as soon as possible.
It is important to remember that all evidence will be lost if a rape victim takes a bath, shower, or changes clothes.
There is always a consultant on duty who can be called out to ensure that all the critical procedures have been conducted and offer advice.

Health and safety

The following procedures should be followed during emergencies:

In fire emergencies:

raise the alarm.
call Campus Protection Services
inform the warden or any other authorised person
follow the building evacuation procedure if necessary
contain the fire if you can do so without endangering yourself; otherwise rather wait for CPS officers to arrive

In medical emergencies

call Campus Protection Services
do not risk causing further injuries to the patient in any way if you do not have First Aid training. It is safer to wait for a Campus Protection Services officer to arrive
you have the option of calling a Health and Safety representative to assist
inform the warden or any other authorised person

Important contact numbers

Campus Protection Services	021 650 2222/3
Burnage	021 650 2222/3
Robert Leslie (Upper Campus)	021 650 2121/4080
Forest Hill (Residence)	021 650 3856
Medical Campus	021 650 6690
Hiddingh Campus	021 480 7101
Student Health Centre	021 650 3000
Sexual Harassment Prevention (Discrimination & Harassment Office - DISCHO)	021 650 3530
Safety, Health & Environment Officer	021 650 2660 / 2246
Traffic Services	021 650 3312 / 3 / 4
Access Control	021 650 3996 / 4357
SAPS (Rondebosch)	021 685 4747
SAPS (Mowbray)	021 680 9580
SAPS (Woodstock)	021 442 3122