Namola offers security technology to aid citizens with fast armed response services, without seeking direct human intervention.
South Africa has one of the world's biggest private security industries, with more than 11,000 registered companies and 2.4 million active guards. This far outstrips police numbers, according to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
Barbed wire, electric fences, and panic buttons are a part of everyday life.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently presented the country’s latest crime statistics. Dishearteningly, post-pandemic crime numbers caution to bump up one’s safety game.
Overall, 13 crime categories are worse year on year, the stats show, while 10 others improved.
Of the 13 crimes that are worse than last year, five are at their worst levels seen in this quarter over the last five years. These are:
- Murder
- Attempted murder
- Carjacking
- Robbery at residential premises
- Commercial crime
It’s a no-brainer then, that South Africans are doing whatever they can to feel safer.
Women and safety in South Africa
‘Tell me when you’re home’ is a phrase that has been branded into South African lexicon.
And based on the high levels of gender-based harassment, abuse, and violence in South Africa, women need to take extraordinary measures to keep themselves safe as they lead their daily lives.
Technology isn’t a silver bullet for the horrific levels of gender-based violence in our society, but apps and smartphones offer a viable tool that women can use to protect themselves.
Operating since 2017, Namola has various community and neighbourhood features for sharing safety-related information, as well as an emergency assistance function, including for mental health and gender-based violence incidents.
Help fast, when you need it
Namola positions itself as a type of middleman between users and responders, and thus streamlines the emergency response process.
The app effectively takes the complication out of getting emergency assistance, which in a country that is under-resourced when it comes to emergency services, is extremely important from the side of the person who needs help, as well as the people providing the help.
Namola plays a particularly important role in South Africa, not only because of high crime levels, but because medical and emergency services are often fragmented and there are challenges in location, such as addresses in more remote locations being unclear.
Public emergency services in South Africa are under-resourced to respond well and quickly. Namola has responded by creating a subscription service that gives access to private-sector responders.
It also allows for emergency services to respond to the last-known location, even if the user is no longer able to answer their phone.
Partnership with DStv
As of 26 October 2022, all South African DStv customers can take up any of the plans from Namola and conveniently add their Namola subscription to their monthly DStv bill hassle-free to qualify for a discounted Namola subscription.
DStv and Namola customers can now prioritize their safety with a subscription fee of as little as R29 for the individual package, R59 for the couples' package and R99 for the family package.
DStv Rewards customers can claim Namola rewards via their MyDstv app, where they can register to get three months free for family, or one month free for couples or individuals. Thereafter they will pay a reduced premium.
Visit dstv.com for more information.
