Security role in doubt

STUDENTS were dragged, pepper-sprayed, beaten with batons and had rocks thrown at them during #FeesMustFall protests this week.

Some women at the University of Johannesburg said they had been threatened with rape by private security guards.

A 22-year-old honours student, who did not want to be named, said. “All my friends have been physically handled. I haven’t. I’ve only been intimidated, with them saying: ‘We’ll rape you, we’ll show you who’s the man around here.’ ”

The fiercest clashes at UJ were on Wednesday.

UJ spokeswoman Kaamini Reddy said security guards on campus had been instructed to disperse any gatherings after the university obtained a court interdict. She said students had to get permission if they wanted to gather.

Mpho Mofikoe, deputy director of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, said private security guards were not trained to control crowds. This was up to the police.

Wahl Bartmann, CEO of the Fidelity Security Group, whose guards were at the forefront of the clashes at UJ, said: “These guys are trained. They are registered with PSIRA, they use minimum force and violence.

“There are no rubber bullets or pepper spray we hand out to the people.”

Responding to questions about his guards throwing rocks at students, he said: “No, I don’t know. You have to bring that proof to us. The information I have is that it didn’t take place. I wasn’t on the premises. If it happened, we’ll investigate it.”

UJ journalism professor Jane Duncan said private security guards were “clearly ill-trained for this kind of policing, so they land up simply running amok”.