Students with criminal record vs. safety rights challenges for prospective students in the institutions of higher learning in South Africa

Abstract

Constitutionally, every individual citizen in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) has the right to education regardless of social and/or legal circumstances. The constitution also guarantees everyone the right to freedom and security of a person. This article aims to advocate the rights of students to pursue their studies safely that might be threatened by safety challenges in the institutions of higher learning (IHL) around the country. A phenomenological qualitative research design and chain referral sampling method was used for this study to determine the practical experience of safety challenges in IHL.The study revealed that it remains the responsibility of the IHL to always manage and operate campus patrols and determines that there are safety measures readily and at hand when the need arises and to ensure that conducive teaching and learning takes place without fear of victimisation amongst its component societies. It has been recommended in this study that the management of IHL should improve and strengthen their security systems with adequate human resources.