Eyerus application a new hope to curb contact crime

THE scourge of gender-based violence, rape, sexual violence, kidnapping and assault has forced many people to come up with different viable solutions in efforts to combat them.

While these grave ills are still prevalent in many communities, the emergence of the Eyerus mobile application is set to keep people safe at all times.

Founder of the application Sibusiso Mbhele shared where the idea of Eyerus stemmed from.

“In 2014, we all woke up to the sad news of the kidnapping of more than 270 Chibok girls in Nigeria. So we were very worried, as fathers and brothers, as to what we would do if this were to happen on our shores.”

He highlighted that the Eyerus application is designed as protection for all, especially women and members of the LGBTIQ+ community, who were the most marginalised in South Africa.

Founded by GreenEye Consortium, Eyerus enables users to indicate how safe or unsafe they feel in their current surroundings through the use of four safety status modes.

The safety modes are Green Alert Mode (safe and sound), Amber Alert Mode (live audio stream), Red Alert Mode (live video streaming), and Blue Alert Mode (armed emergency personnel dispatched).

Mbhele expressed delight that the application was live and people would be able to use it.

“With almost every South African using a smartphone, the smart thing to do was to create a mobile app designed to provide personal safety for everyone needing the freedom to live without fear in a society gripped by crime.

“We are excited to say that Eyerus is now here to help solve one of the biggest pandemics in South Africa, contact crime, which includes sexual violence, rape, assault, and Gender-Based Violence,” said Mbhele.

For those who have not yet downloaded the app, he said: “Give it a try. You will see the more you use it, the more you will get used to it. And the more it will look after you.’’

Mbhele and his team’s efforts have also been supported and backed by Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.