In a big effort to fight the increasing crime rates in Gauteng, the Gauteng Department of e-Government and the Department of Community Safety hosted a major event at Boitumelo Secondary School on Thursday. They launched
The e-Panic Button is a clever new technology made to make Gauteng residents safer. It lets people quickly call emergency services and the police by just pressing a button, so they can get help fast when they’re in trouble. This is part of a plan to use technology to stop crime and keep people safe.
Since April 2023, 8,000 people have downloaded the Gauteng e-Panic Button, mostly nurses and teachers. Going forward, they plan to give out 100,000 physical panic buttons, and people with smartphones can download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
At the event, Mzi Khumalo, who works for the Gauteng Department of e-Government and COGTA, stressed how important it is for communities to get involved and for technology to help fight crime. “The Gauteng e-Panic Button is more than just a piece of technology; it is a symbol of our commitment to protect our citizens,” he said.
Faith Mazibuko, from the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, agreed and said that everyone needs to work together to keep Gauteng safe. “Safety is everyone’s job. We need the community to be actively involved in these plans and to help keep an eye out for trouble,” she said.
During the Crime Imbizo, people from the community got to share their concerns and ideas about how to stop crime. Many were hopeful about the e-Panic Button and thought it would make them safer.
One local resident, Popy Mashiya, who works against Gender-Based Violence, said, “This tool gives us a direct line to help when we need it most. It’s reassuring to know that help is just a button press away. I think every household should have it.”
Another resident, Sindiso Queen, said, “We all deserve to feel safe where we live. The e-Panic Button is a great idea, but we also need to work together as a community to watch out for each other and report suspicious activities.”
The launch event and Crime Imbizo showed how important it is for the government and the community to work together to fight crime. The Gauteng e-Panic Button will soon be available across the province, and training sessions will be held to teach people how to use it properly.
As Gauteng deals with crime, initiatives like the e-Panic Button and community events like the Crime Imbizo are important steps toward making things safer for everyone. The provincial government is committed to helping and protecting its citizens by using new ideas and involving the community.
