UB Freshers' Ball haunted by thugs again

BABOKI KAYAWE &
NELSON DIRENG
Staff Writer
Correspondents | Wednesday September 7, 2011 00:00

 

Instead of cancelling the annual party to welcome first-year students, campus security - which is lax at UB even when the event is not going on - should be tightened.

'What is needed is cooperation among law enforcement agencies in order to tighten security,' Kennekae said in an interview.  'UB security is not that tight, especially when it comes to SRC-driven events.'

Kennekae accused both campus security and Central Police Station in Gaborone's Main Mall of sabotage, saying they did not cooperate despite having been notified in time about the event.

Pandemonium broke out at UB last Saturday as this year's freshers' ball was underway at the amphitheatre.

Police failed to respond when they were notified at 11pm.  'In fact, one of the officers asked me why I was calling them when we had hired security,' Kennekae says.  The SRC says laptops, cellphones and other valuable items were stolen from residence halls while several female students were allegedly raped.

'The rape issue is a bit exaggerated,' says Kennekae.  'I have personally heard of only two attempted rape cases at the amphitheatre.'

The Central Police Station has registered 30 cases of assault, robbery, malicious damage to property and common theft, but no cases of rape.