Muggings Plague Res'

by Bate Felix

Students residing at Esselen residence in Hillbrow fear for their lives following a spate of muggings around the residence this past week.

House committee chairperson Sipho Mbuyisa is calling on the University authorities to act. “This is terrifying and traumatising, somebody must do something,” he pleaded.

This comes a few days after a female student was mugged and her cell phone stolen while she was about to get on a Luxliner shuttle bus at the Esselen bus stop.

Tshegofatso mamabolo, (18) a star school student at Wits said she was about get into the bus to campus. “These guys one in front and one behind grabbed me by my neck, pinned me on the door of the bus and took my cell phone from my pocket”.

After stealing the phone, they fled leaving the students paralysed with fear.

The alleged thieves were on a circuit bus from campus. “This brazen act took place around midday in front many witnesses, including the driver, and some students who were waiting to get into the bus,” said Mbuyisa, a third year quantity surveying student.

“Nobody could do anything because we were deeply traumatised. Even the driver did nothing” said Mbuyisa. “The victim was distraught, crying all the way to campus as we tried to comfort her,” he said

The security situation at Esselen is becoming quite unbearable, Mbuyisa added. The residence is situated in Hillbrow an area with the seedy reputation of a criminal hot spot in Johannesburg.

Floyd Mkhabela, Esselen house committee treasurer, also witnessed the mugging. He said “It is disturbing to know that EOH and other Parktown residences have security, patrolling the place, whereas here (Hillbrow) where we know it is dangerous, there is no security, students are not safe”.

This was the second time in a week that we are having such attacks said Mbuyisa. Last Friday another student and her friend were attacked.

Thandi Dladla an Industrial Psychology honours student said they were waiting for the bus when the two men accosted them, brandishing knives and demanding their cell phones.

“The cameras can see everything going on here but the security said they cannot do anything because they don’t have guns, they said they are scared,” she said.

“The Situation is worrying because the buses transport people in and out of campus without any control; nobody checks to see if only card holders get on the bus, so we cannot tell if they are students or not, anybody can get in and out,” said Sipho Mbuyisa

Vionne de villiers of the transport office said she cannot comment since the incident was never reported, she only heard of it when Vuvuzela made enquiries and campus control is investigating.

Rob Sharman, dean in charge of residence life also said he cannot comment because he only just heard of the incidents, but that he’ll look into it.