By Lungi Langa
University of Zululand’s off-campus residence in KwaDlangezwa has turned into a gangsters’ paradise, leaving students traumatised.
Security footage obtained by Scrolla.Africa shows the dramatic moment a crime-fighting forum shot at a group of armed robbers who were fleeing after robbing some students at gunpoint.
In the incident which took place at around 8 pm on Tuesday night, a group of local thugs robbed and shot at a group of students. They demanded phones, laptops and other items from the terrified students.
While no student was injured in the recent attack, the students feel under severe stress and are suffering anxiety. It was the second attack in less than a week.
“Students living in some of the off-campus residences are living in constant fear of being robbed of their belongings at gunpoint. Other residences have forums that are fighting crime and that helps but others don’t,” said South African Students Congress (Sasco) chairperson at the university, Siboniso Gamede.
He said they believe that the attack on the students living in the residences is being orchestrated by an organised ring of criminals. Gamede said the thugs were armed with big guns and travelled in cars.
Gamede said they want students living in the unsafe residences moved to safer ones. They also want there to be visible security in some of the hotspot areas.
After the latest attack two of the perpetrators were apprehended by a crime fighting forum led by the area councillor. Ntuthuko Makhanya, who represents ward 34 in Richards Bay, said they were concerned about the safety of the university’s students.
Makhanya said upon hearing about the standoff between the students and the armed robbers the group rushed in and a shooting match ensued but no one was injured.
He said they hoped the forum could be extended to other areas and that security would be added.
“We are hoping to hold a meeting with some of the residence owners in order to come up with a plan that would include hiring armed security that would also patrol the area at certain times of the day. We need the residences to have security stationed on the premises,” said Makhanya.
The university management halted all classes following the latest incident to give affected students an opportunity to get counselling and allow the university to investigate the matter.
KwaZulu-Natal Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, confirmed that two men, a 30-year-old and a 27-year-old. were arrested on charges of attempted murder and house robbery.
Pictured above: A local security forum fires shots at thugs fleeing after robbing students at gunpoint.
Image source: Supplied
