With South Africa ranked as the global rape capital, a report by inDrive, an e-hailing service provider, raises alarming statistics of violence towards women as a result of nightlife escapades.

The second quarter crime stats for 2023/24 showed that women continued to be the target of gender-based violence (GBV) during night time activities.

A total of 1 514 incidents of attempted murders involving female victims were recorded between July and September 2023. Additionally, females were victims in 14 401 grievous bodily harm (GBH) incidents reported to the police during the same period.

The University of Johannesburg hosted an event focusing on the nightlife economy in a bid to come up with tangible, long-term solutions to GBV, rape, human trafficking and spiking of women’s drinks.

As women are most likely prone to GBV crimes during the night, the event aimed to foster a safe environment for women in night establishments by collaborating with government and key stakeholders in the private sector, including e-hailing service providers.

“The University of Johannesburg’s new project on the role of the nightlife economy in addressing gender-based violence brings together nightlife establishments, regulatory bodies, government departments, and communities to combat this issue.

Xitsakisi Mahlori, senior manager for Community Engagement at UJ, said: “By engaging all stakeholders, including nightlife venues and e-hailing services, the initiative aims to foster vigilance and proactive measures, ensuring safe environments for everyone, especially during night time.”

Business Development Specialist for Africa at inDrive, Ashif Black, added that nightlife safety was heavily reliant on the e-hailing industry. Therefore, it was imperative for e-hailing service providers to engage and partner with the initiative to ensure nightlife customers, especially women were safe while having fun.

“This is essential when mitigating students’ safety concerns. The industry is integral in providing safe and reliable transportation options during late hours. However, we must also prioritise strategies to combat GBV, ensuring the safety and security of both passengers and drivers,” said Black.

inDrive has upped its safety features by increasing the number of its female drivers, which also contributes to job creation for women.

“This initiative not only provides women with economic opportunities, but also offers female passengers the choice of a female driver, enhancing their sense of safety and comfort during rides, especially at night,” said Black.

Moreover, their app allows users to add five trusted contacts, enabling them to immediately reach these contacts during emergencies.

“Users can also access all necessary information for requesting help or reporting incidents through the app’s SOS button, which has been made available too,” said Black.

Similar to Uber, inDrive is tightening its verification features when requesting for a ride. “We are testing new features like photo sharing and automatic translation in the in-app chat to improve communication and safety, with these being tested by a limited number of users before a full rollout.”

“ This update is part of the inDrive Safety Pact, which includes driver verification, real-time ride sharing with trusted contacts, and the option to select rides based on ratings, reviews, and destination visibility,” said Black.

inDrive’s commitment to combating GBV, was underlined by the Layita Khayelitsha initiative to install street lights in indigent communities.

“Improved lighting in these areas significantly reduces the risk of violence, including GBV, by increasing visibility and deterring potential offenders. We are deeply committed to challenging injustices such as GBV, and supporting community-based initiatives, we strive to create a safer and more just society,” said Black.

The Star

hope.mafu@inl.co.za

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