MemezaShout – A Personal Alarms System That Reduced Sexual Violence. MemezaShout Crime Prevention is a South African personal security company that was founded in 2012 by Thuli Mthethwa who also acts as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
It was initially established as a Non-Profit Organisation specialising in innovative Connected Community Safety Technology. It is focused on lower income communities where it provides alarm systems and panic buttons to poor households.
The alarm system consists of interior and exterior sensors that are equipped with panic buttons that will alert the police, medical personnel and the fire department once it is used. Its value proposition is based on enabling private and public partnerships such as its partnership with Vodacom.
Vodacom plays a significant role in the success of the company as it provides sponsorships of SIM cards and sponsorships of SMS usage and data which allows vulnerable recipients continued communication in the time of need.
In an interview with Safer Spaces Mthethwa said, “Vodacom’s funding of the piloting of the first community based pay as you go sector alarms in Diepsloot is having an unprecedented positive impact beyond imagination. Poor and vulnerable people now also feel safe and protected in their low cost houses in informal settlements. Vodacom has helped protect up to 6 000 families, amongst them the very old and vulnerable.”
According to its website MemezaShout has reduced sexual offences by 67% in Diepsloot, distributed over 80 000 personal alarms in over 8 provinces, prevented theft in no fee paying schools by 98% and has managed to get over 70 police stations to work with them. They also managed to win the Google Peoples’ Choice Award in the Google Impact Challenge.
