Going out is very popular here at the University of Pretoria, and students are spoilt for choice. Between the infamous Strip on Lynnwood Road and hotspots on Burnett Street, a good time is never far away. It makes perfect sense for these places to be popular as Hatfield is filled with students. This is the time to be going out with friends, grabbing a drink with the girls, and celebrating after a Varsity Cup win. A place filled with so many jolly people is also the least safe place to be at any given hour after dusk.As famous as Burnett Street and Lynwood Road are, we should refer to them as infamous due to a common factor: crime. It is not uncommon for a phone to be stolen, for a drink to be spiked, or for someone to be harassed. Yes, our parents will always say “These are the things that come with going out”, but is that fair?
It is not fair that some people head to these places with good vibes and good intentions in mind only to come back home from the police station feeling distraught because something bad happened to you. Every time it seems that you have figured out the game, that you have outmaneuvered any potential danger, a video comes up on your TikTok feed with a new type of crime or scheme that you could not have imagined. Now, there is another threat to look out for. Having a phone stolen and never recovered is a common experience. For one student, their entire purse was snatched with the cellphone pinging in Sunnyside.
Last year, the Hatfield Community Improvement District (CID) – a non-profit organisation that helps promote the safety of those in Hatfield – visited several residences to encourage students to download their app with a panic button in case one is in need of assistance in an emergency. There are not many reviews on the app, however, the organisation does state willingness to help in emergencies. The TikTok account @Hatfields_Pulse has many videos showing violent incidents that happen, with one individual always sharing tips on staying safe in Hatfield.
There seems to be no formula to having safe fun rather than staying vigilant, keeping your friends in sight, and staying in a group you trust. Anything outside of that is outside of your control because bad people do bad things to good people. The places that have been established for us to have fun are there for a reason, and they will continue to exist even with all the dangers that surround them.
Visual: Keira Thaoge
