Carte Blanche tackles safety of SU students amid rise in abductions

Pippa Hudson interviews Catherine Rice, Carte Blanche producer.

Listen below.

The safety of Stellenbosch University (SU) students has come under scrutiny following the discovery of a 19-year-old first-year BSc student's body by a security guard on patrol.

Police have confirmed that the student was murdered, having sustained stab wounds to the neck.

RELATED: Stellenbosch University expresses shock following student's fatal stabbing

For many, campus life is associated with late-night enjoyment, however, a series of kidnappings in recent months has left SU students living in fear. 

In light of at least five students that have been abducted in recent months, Carte Blanche tackled this issue following outreach from worried and desperate mothers.

Rice points out that many students arrive at SU from areas with higher crime rates, which can lead to a false sense of security.

"They just don't seem to be aware of how dangerous things actually are there."

- Catherine Rice, Carte Blanche producer

While filming students at night after a night out, Rice says that many were alarmingly unaware of their surroundings, often distracted by their phones.

She highlights that in five of the abduction cases they covered, two occurred right outside busy nightclubs, where friends witnessed their peers being abducted.

She adds that it is 'disturbing' that no connection has been made between these five cases, suggesting the possibility of a syndicate behind the abductions.

"What I found very disconcerting and very disturbing about this story was that there seems to be a lack of investigation."

- Catherine Rice, Carte Blanche producer

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.