UCT centre re-opens after students robbed

TRAINING at a UCT skills centre has resumed following the suspension of services after six students were robbed at gunpoint this month.

UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas confirmed UCT staff and students resumed their programmes last week after the temporary suspensionfor just over a week.

Lucas said the head of School Safety at Metropole East Education District, Eric Magodla held a meeting last Tuesday to address crime levels in Khayelitsha.

The South African National Civic Organisation, the three SAPS station commanders, principals from six of the seven schools where UCT has a presence, either through the Schools Improvement Initiative or the School of Education, and UCT representatives from the Health Sciences Faculty, the Schools Improvement Initiative and the School of Education, attended the meetings.

“The main focus of the meeting was on developing strategies for improving safety within the broader Khayelitsha community, particularly in relation to schools.

“It was agreed that this is the beginning of a process that will be taken further into wider community forums,” Lucas said.

She said the temporary suspension of services only applied to the UCT health sciences students in Khayelitsha.

Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson Ndithini Thyido said another meeting was held yesterday concerning the safety of the returning of UCT staff and students.

“Our concern is about the safety of these students and staff.

“At the meeting we encouraged the community to help the police in fighting crime in the community. The UCT involvement was helpful in our community because it is an important part of students practice as well.

Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said there were no further developments in the case and the robbery investigation was ongoing.