The North-West University (NWU), in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS), has launched the Campus Community Safety Forum (CCSF) at the Mahikeng Campus of the NWU, establishing a collaborative platform aimed at strengthening campus safety, crime prevention and coordinated responses to safety challenges affecting students and staff.
The launch formed part of a two-day Campus Community Safety Programme held on 13 and 14 August 2026, bringing together representatives from the NWU, the SAPS, government departments, Higher Health, student leadership, municipalities, community policing forums and other community stakeholders.
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to creating a university environment in which students can learn, staff can work and research can be conducted in safety, with dignity and confidence.
Building a safer campus through collaboration
The programme was formally opened by Dr Joe Molete, deputy vice-chancellor for student life, transformation, people and culture with the assigned function of the Mahikeng Campus, who welcomed all representatives.
Dr Molete emphasised that campus safety is not simply an operational matter, but is fundamental to creating an environment in which students can learn, academics can teach and conduct research, and professional and support staff can perform their duties with confidence and dignity.
He said the establishment of the CCSF is particularly significant because it brings together stakeholders who have a role to play in campus safety to share information and expertise, identify challenges, coordinate interventions and develop practical solutions.
The first day of the programme included discussions on the Campus Safety Framework, crime detection, safety on the campus, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and the legislative framework relating it, crowd management, student safety cadets and mental health. Students also participated in a dialogue on campus safety and contributed suggestions towards an effective collaborative approach.
SAPS calls for partnership policing
Delivering the keynote address at the official launch, Major General (Dr) Rayno Naidoo, deputy provincial commissioner for support services at SAPS North West, emphasised that campus safety requires a collective commitment from law enforcement, educational institutions, students, government and communities.
Major General Naidoo said universities are much more than places of learning. They are environments in which future leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and public servants are shaped and in which young people begin building their futures. Such environments, he said, must be protected from crime, violence, substance abuse, bullying and other forms of criminality.
“Today's launch is significant because it demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting this learning environment. It brings together the government, law enforcement, education, community structures, faith-based organisations, student leadership and many other stakeholders under one common purpose: to build a safer campus for everyone.”
He emphasised that while the SAPS has a constitutional responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect communities and uphold the law, sustainable safety cannot be achieved by the police alone.
“Policing is most effective when it is done with communities and not merely for communities. This is the essence of partnership policing.”
Major General Naidoo explained that partnership policing recognises the role of every stakeholder in crime prevention. Educational institutions provide leadership and support structures, students can become active participants in protecting one another, while municipalities, community policing forums, traditional leaders, businesses, civil society and faith-based organisations all contribute to safer communities.
A platform for coordinated action
The CCSF will provide a structured platform for regular engagement, problem-solving and coordinated action between the NWU, the SAPS and other stakeholders.
The forum will enable stakeholders to identify safety concerns, develop intervention plans, promote awareness campaigns and strengthen communication between students, campus management and law enforcement agencies.
The formal launch programme included messages of support from representatives of the Provincial Community Policing Forum Board, the Provincial Youth Crime Prevention Desk, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Mahikeng Local Municipality. It also included the introduction of the members of the CCSF and the signing of a pledge by dignitaries.
Students are key partners
Student participation was identified as a critical component of the forum.
Dr Molete said students are not merely recipients of safety interventions but important partners in creating a safer university environment. He encouraged students to speak openly about their experiences, identify gaps in existing interventions and contribute practical solutions.
Major General Naidoo similarly encouraged students to report criminal activity, bullying, harassment and GBVF, support victims and reject substance abuse and criminal behaviour.
He said students have the power to influence their peers positively and contribute towards a campus culture based on respect, accountability and mutual care.
The programme recognised that safety challenges experienced by universities often mirror those in surrounding communities. These include theft, robbery, assault, public violence, GBVF, substance abuse, cybercrime and intimidation. Major General Naidoo said these challenges require integrated solutions that combine law enforcement with education, awareness, social support and community involvement.
From launch to action
Major General Naidoo stressed that the launch should not be regarded as the end of the process, but rather the beginning of sustained collaboration.
“Its success will not be measured by today's speeches or attendance, but by the partnerships we sustain, the trust we build, the problems we solve together and the safer environment we create for every student and staff member.”
He called for the forum to become a living example of what can be achieved when the government, educational institutions, students, communities and law enforcement unite behind a common purpose.
For the NWU, the establishment of the CCSF represents an important step towards institutionalising a collaborative approach to campus safety. The university recognises that a safe campus extends beyond physical security and includes the psychosocial well-being of students and staff, as well as addressing GBVF, mental health, harassment, intimidation and other forms of harm.
The forum will now focus on turning the commitments made during the two-day programme into practical interventions, strengthening prevention, improving reporting and response mechanisms, and ensuring that students and staff know where to seek assistance.
As the NWU and the SAPS embark on this new chapter of partnership, the shared objective is clear: to build safer campuses, strengthen communities and create an environment in which every student and staff member can learn, work and thrive.
Dr Joe Molete, deputy vice-chancellor for student life, transformation, people and culture with the assigned function of the Mahikeng Campus, and Major General (Dr) Rayno Naidoo, deputy provincial commissioner for support services at SAPS North West.
