Don't be too trusting

Joburg comes with flashing lights and everything under the sun, don’t be fooled by it, this place is a jungle at its best, they don’t call it GP (Gangsters Paradise) for nothing,crime features strongly as one of the themes of Johannesburg. I’m currently doing my Btech at DFC, and I wish someone would have cautioned me during my first year about the real life dangers that students face on a daily basis. Yes, the university cautions us about consequences of not meeting academic requirement as well as taking care of our wellbeing, but I feel as though no one cautions us about the real life dangers we might encounter during our studies.

During my first year I was looking for promotional part time job to earn an extra buck ,  a guy approached us saying he needed promo girls at that time, I though “whoop whoop” just my luck. He took us to Melrose Arch to brief us about this particular event and insisted that we have a drink before we go because he didn't want any shy girls, he later span us a story about a Government event  that we would be working for that particular night, the event paid quite well and we would be required to be data captures for that event. He asked that we give our phones to one of our friends as no phones are allowed to enter the venue because of security precautions, we didn't think much of it because we just wanted the job as it paid very well. We were also required to bring our own laptops to capture the data. The girl that was chosen to take our phones left with the man to take our belongings to “Safe Keeping”. At this point, our friend was robbed by this man, he took all our phones and laptops and rapped our friend and dumped her by the Sandton Convention Center.  Moral of the story please be warned, DON’T BE TOO TRUSTING OF ANYONE! More especially when your safety is concerned.

Tips for students

•  Make sure you work for promotion companies that are well known and legitimate, do research on them if necessary
•   Avoid walking alone at night
•  Don’t talk on your  phone while walking, earphones also draw a lot of unnecessary attention to thieves
• Sugar daddies can bring you more than money, they rob you of your innocence and might leave you with AIDS
• Always carry cab money with you when going out
•   Don’t over indulge in alcohol , don’t do drugs, practice safe sex
•   Learn to take care of yourself
•   Don’t take lifts from strangers