Vodacom’s ground-breaking FREE app to fight the scourge of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

With the threat of the current COVID-19 global pandemic, South African women face another threat – gender-based violence (GBV).

Curbing the scourge of GBV requires an act of solidarity from every sector and forgood has witnessed corporate clients steering to combat the effect of GBV.

Vodacom has an ongoing commitment to prevent GBV. In November 2020, Vodacom announced the launch of the Bright Sky app to aid in the fight against GBV.

Bright Sky, which provides support and information for anyone in an abusive relationship, is already free for download on both iOS and Android devices and is available in three official languages: English, IsiZulu and Sesotho. The app includes a short questionnaire to help users identify different forms of abuse. It also gives them information about GBV and access to support services.

Takalani Netshitenzhe, Eternal Affairs Director for Vodacom South Africa says:

Bright Sky app is part of our vision to use our core capability, technology, to respond to some of the societal challenges plaguing our society in this milieu. Digital technologies have become a positive enabler in this GBV crisis that we are facing. The App is part of our prevention strategy and will strengthen prevention through awareness and education and will also augment the response by the criminal justice system through the journal of evidence.

Bright Sky App is zero-rated, this ensures that Vodacom users will not insure any data costs when downloading the app or accessing many of the referral links to GBV support services found on the app.

The app is an important part of Vodacom’s bid to help fight GBV, strengthening prevention through awareness and education, and directing those affected by GBV to the support services that are available to them. With COVID-19 having prompted a dramatic surge in GBV cases, prevention measures such as these are more important than ever.

Vodacom's GBV programmes focus on prevention, response and victim empowerment. Response is through the GBV Command Centre in Pretoria and victim support is through digital literacy they provide in the shelters for victims and survivors of GBV.

“Fighting GBV requires a coordinated approach and partnership between government, civil society and business. This is how Vodacom comes into the picture, bringing technology into the partnership to stop GBV from occurring in the first place,” concluded Netshitenzhe.