Bloemfontein's Central University of Technology.(SABC)
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Bloemfontein's Central University of Technology wants a review of municipal by-laws that regulate taverns. Several weeks ago, one of its students was killed in an area near the institution and the main police station.
Students pass through streets that are dotted with taverns and has become crime hotspots. A 23-year old engineering student was stabbed to death when he returned from shopping. He is the fourth student to become a victim of crime in that area.
"I'm still traumatised by this. What has happened to him I'm trying to put up a brave face but I cant..." says one of the students.
In the past three months about 80 crime cases have been reported . The crimes include assault, robbery, drug trafficking and rape.
Police spokesperson Chaka Marope says: "These crimes are a worrying factor to the police because they reflect a negative impact to us since the area is close to the police station. But we do conduct our regular blitz operation and regular raids at identified crime hot spots."
The University says increased police patrols are only part of the solution."We call upon our metro to review the current by-laws that allow the rise of taverns that are operating within the vicinity of student residences," says CUT spokesperson Dan Maritz.
A review on all Mangaung metro municipal by-laws is already underway.
