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Renewed calls to remove private security from after UJ student’s death

Security guard. Picture Credit: Thinkstock
Security guard. Picture Credit: Thinkstock

The use of private security at universities is once in the spotlight following the death of a 21-year-old University of Johannesburg (UJ) student over the weekend.

Kelvin Baloyi was shot and killed allegedly by a security guard in the early hours of Saturday morning at The Yard‚ a privately owned student residence approved by the university.

 According to fellow students‚ the security guard‚ who allegedly shot Baloyi following a confrontation at a party‚ was often spotted on campus clad in Fidelity Security uniform during school hours.

 The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng called for the removal of private security guards from campus.

 “The private security companies and bouncers operating at UJ‚ who have been terrorising and bullying students at the university over the last two years‚ must not only be removed from the university campuses‚ but must also face the full might of the law for carrying weapons on campus‚ harassing‚ brutalising and assaulting students‚” EFF Gauteng’s Mandisa Mashego said.

 The party accused the university’s vice-chancellor Ihron Rensburg of wasting university funds on private security.

 Mashego said: “The vice-chancellor‚ Rensburg‚ who has been misusing university funds by paying several private security companies millions for almost two years‚ has led that university in the most reckless and irresponsible way and has continuously displayed disdain and hatred for black students.”

Fellow students have also called for another court bid to have private security removed from campus.

Mike Motlapeng said: “A few weeks ago‚ we unsuccessfully took UJ to court over the use of private security guards. Now they have killed a student.”

 

 

 

Baloyi was a first-year student at the university’s Auckland Park campus.

 

He is originally from Mozambique. His family is said to be in South Africa following the news of his passing.

 

 “Kelvin Baloyi is from Mozambique and (his) family drove here. They are so devastated. The mother can’t believe this.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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