NINE women have so far been found dead in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, raising concern among residents and putting renewed pressure on investigators to establish whether the deaths are connected.
As investigations continue, fears are growing among residents, with women in particular saying they do not feel safe.
Against this backdrop, the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa has announced free armed-response services for women across South Africa.
The service will be available at no cost for 30 days from the date of registration. It requires users to register through the AA website and is supported by a network of armed-response partners across the country.
According to the AA, there are no hidden fees or strings attached, and users will not automatically be charged or opted into a paid service once the 30-day period ends.
Once registered, users need to download the MyAA app, which features a virtual panic button that can be used to request assistance when needed.
“It is both sad and unfortunate that as a society we’ve gotten to this space,” says Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the Automobile Association.
“This is AA putting its hand up and saying to the women of South Africa, we see you, we hear you, and we want to help. We challenge all corporates to do the same; dig deep and do something. Every action adds up and certainly makes a difference.”
Ramagwede said the service is intended to provide much-needed relief to women experiencing anxiety over their safety.
The registration process is straightforward. Women can visit the AA website and sign up for Armed Response. After registering, they can download the MyAA app and activate their free Armed Response service.
Once activated, the user’s phone effectively becomes a mobile panic button, allowing them to request assistance when they feel threatened or are in danger.
The AA says help can be requested anywhere and at any time within the service’s coverage.
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