In a bid to improve the safety of the University of Pretoria (UP) community off campus, the University has partnered with the Hatfield City Improvement District (CID) and CASI, a technology company in the security sector, to launch the Hatfield CID Panic App.

The app features a mobile panic button and countrywide coverage that can be activated during an emergency anytime, anywhere. For R100 a year, UP staff members and students can have access to on-demand security assistance off campus.

“UP is passionate about staff and student security,” says Sandile Mthiyane, UP’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our Security Services team cannot be everywhere for everyone, and that’s why we saw fit to endorse this initiative and encourage our community to sign up and stay safe anywhere and anytime, not just in Hatfield.” 

Lucas Luckhoff, Hatfield CID CEO, explained the thinking behind the app: “Crime in South Africa is out of control, and the police only get involved after a crime has occurred. Current media reports suggest that South Africa needs 62 000 more police officers to get the job done, while having to make do with budget cuts in the region of R6 billion. This shows that private security initiatives such as the Hatfield CID Panic App, and the use of technology, have become crucial for safety and security in communities.”

How the app works and additional features

The app has a panic button and once it’s activated, the app broadcasts the user’s location to all the nearest responding partners as well as a 24-hour command centre. An armed response is then dispatched and will navigate to the user using their mobile device’s location.

The app also has a ride functionality to ensure that users arrive safely at their destination. This can be triggered before a trip – users will be asked to confirm where they’re going and the expected time of arrival.

“Once your expected parameters have been met, the app will automatically check in to see whether you’re safe,” Luckhoff explains. “This will be validated with a unique security code that will have been provided to you at the beginning of your trip. Should no response be received, or the code be entered incorrectly, armed response will immediately be dispatched to your location.”

The app also has a unique feature that users can activate when meeting a stranger at any time outside their home.

“By triggering the ‘Meet’ functionality, the app will prompt you to enter the meeting address as well as the details of the person you are meeting,” Luckhoff says. “A safe meeting window will then be assigned. Once your meeting has started, the app will check in with you to ensure that you’re safe. If no response is received, armed response will immediately be dispatched to your location.”

Signing up

The app is active and thus far, 11 500 students have been loaded and close to 4 000 have used it.

“The Hatfield CID receives regular panic alerts from students and they have been assisted with an array of issues,” Luckhoff says.

“Using technology in our fight against crime is now a reality,” CASI CEO Roy Rawlins says. “It is our vision that every student and employee of UP will download the Hatfield CID app. This will empower them to not only take care of themselves but to ‘press the panic’ whenever a friend or colleague is in distress.”