Johannesburg: More than 51,000 residents of Gauteng have utilized the province’s e-Panic Button to summon assistance in emergency situations since the introduction of this crime-fighting technology.
According to South African Government News Agency, since its launch in April 2024, the Gauteng e-Panic Button has been downloaded over 100,000 times by residents. The most frequent incidents where assistance has been rendered include motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian vehicle accidents, assaults, shootings, and sexual offences. Johannesburg leads the regions with more than 21,000 callouts, followed by Ekurhuleni with over 11,000, and Tshwane with over 10,000. Additionally, the department has observed calls related to missing persons, indicating cases of kidnapping in Gauteng.
Gauteng e-Government MEC Bonginkosi Dhlamini praised the e-Panic Button as a crucial tool for combating crime and addressing emergencies for Gauteng residents. He emphasized the necessity for residents to download and utilize the tool when needed, highlighting the readiness and capability of the response team to act swiftly. The response time for deploying ambulances or armed response is between 7 to 10 minutes.
The e-Panic Button is available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Residents who have already downloaded the app are encouraged to use it during emergencies to receive prompt assistance from the command center.