Insane Email From UCT: "Crying wolf: student hoaxes that could have serious consequences"

Dear colleagues and students,

I wish to bring to your attention a matter that has caused some concern for UCT management and the campus protection services for some time now. This is the matter of students reporting crimes or incidents which, upon further investigation, are found not to have occurred. Last month a student who “disappeared” from her residence alleged that she had been kidnapped and taken halfway across the country to another city, where she claimed to have escaped. Acting on the ransom demand for her safe return at the time, campus agencies and the SAPS were mobilised and alarm spread through a campus community which was already traumatised by the recent shooting in Observatory.

It has turned out that this was a hoax. We are of course pleased that no kidnapping took place and that no one came to harm. But perpetrating a hoax of this kind is unacceptable. This incident is now likely to be the subject of a police inquiry which may well lead to criminal prosecution or the recovery from the perpetrator of the considerable public expenses incurred in trying to trace her, or both. University disciplinary action may also be considered.

The issue of crime and the security of our staff and students are of paramount importance at UCT. Over the years we have waged a relatively effective fight against crime on campus and are pursuing efforts to secure the areas at the periphery as well. When a member of our community raises the alarm, considerable internal and external resources are mobilised and levels of fear and anxiety are heightened as many people spend time and effort to solve the problem. I need hardly tell you how disruptive and costly all this turns out to be in the case of a false alarm.

While the circumstances of this incident are still to be determined, we are conscious of the fact that some of this behaviour might be the result of the pressures of student life, especially around examination time. It is thus important to emphasise that free counselling services are available through the Wellness Centre of the Department of Student Affairs (phone 021-650 1017/1020 during business hours) and that the wardens in the residences are there to lend an ear to any student who feels that things are getting on top of him or her.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo

Acting Vice-Chancellor