“Never walk alone…”, “Be alert at all times…” — familiar warnings echoed at the Stellenbosch University SRC’s Safety Imbizo, held on 10 April 2025 at the Stellenbosch Town Hall. The event gathered students, staff, local officials, and community leaders to discuss the rising safety concerns in and around Stellenbosch.
Triggered by an uptick in non-violent crimes, the imbizo offered a platform for open dialogue. SRC Security Officer Zahn Marais emphasized the need for collective action. “The university can’t do this alone, the municipality can’t do this alone. We all need to work together,” she said. Marais also announced a new bi-weekly Safety Forum to better address the different challenges faced by student communities.
Guest speaker Dr. Vanya Gastrow from the Institute for Security Studies noted a sharp increase in crime since the end of COVID-19 lockdowns, suggesting a small group may be responsible for much of the activity. Dr. Viljoen van der Walt from Campus Security added that, while crime levels haven’t surpassed the 2016 peak, the current rise is deeply concerning.
Mayor Jeremy Fasser warned of a “false sense of security” in Stellenbosch, reminding attendees that crime remains a national crisis. Discussions also highlighted unequal safety conditions: while some areas of campus are seeing security upgrades, North Campus and surrounding communities like Kayamandi, Cloetesville, and Idas Valley remain under-protected. “Students feel scared,” one participant said, “but the fear is even greater in the surrounding communities, where support structures are weaker and incidents are more frequent.”
Another major concern raised was the delay in justice. A backlog in prosecutions and a shrinking Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS) unit, facing funding and staffing cuts, mean that offenders are often released and reoffend. In response, the municipality is considering improvements such as better lighting and enhanced security along popular pedestrian routes.
As the evening closed, a lingering frustration remained. Many attendees voiced that safety efforts have long fallen short, particularly for marginalized communities. A Cloetesville community forum representative remarked, “Stellenbosch is only noticing now, but we have had this issue for years.”
The Imbizo provided a much-needed space for dialogue, but the true challenge lies ahead: ensuring that the voices of students and communities are not only heard but that real, lasting changes are made. Until then, the fear with every walk home remains.
The following safety tools were shared during the Imbizo:
- The Stellenbosch University shuttle service:
Free of use between 18:00 – 06:00.
Departs from Neelsie parking
7km drop-off radius
Book on SUN student portal - The security walk along services, 18:00 – 06:00 (requestable via Whatsapp):
Stellenbosch campus: 082 808 2333
Tygerberg campus: 083 938 1841 - Buzzer (safety app):
Notifies you of incidents in your area
Report and SOS function
Free of use
By Kaylin Kotzee and Anica Hattingh
