The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has announced a free armed response service for women in the country following the recent murders in Ekurhuleni.The service will be available at no cost for 30 days from registration and will be backed by armed-response partners across South Africa. Women who sign up will need to visit the AA website to activate the service and download the MyAA app, which houses a virtual panic button. The panic button can be used to call for help from anywhere at any time.
The AA says there are no hidden fees and no automatic opt-in once the 30-day period ends. Users will not be charged after the free period unless they choose to continue the service.
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Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the AA, said the organisation felt compelled to act. “It is both sad and unfortunate that as a society we’ve gotten to this space,” he said. “This is the AA putting its hand up and saying to the women of South Africa, we see you, we hear you, and we want to help.”
Ramagwede called on other companies to take similar steps. “We challenge all corporates to do the same; dig deep and do something. Every action adds up and certainly makes a difference,” he said.
He also urged people to ensure that women in their circles, whether employees or family members, sign up for the service. He noted that the issue of violence against women is systemic and will not be resolved in the short term. The AA’s offering, he said, is an interim measure that may allow authorities to refocus on crime levels and reset priorities.
Ramagwede said the AA has been part of South Africa for nearly a century and described it as a privilege to assist women facing these challenges. “This service offering will provide much-needed relief from the anxiety being experienced by so many every day,” he said.
To register, women can visit www.aa.co.za, sign up for Armed Response, download the MyAA app, and activate the free service. The AA said the process is simple and that a phone becomes a mobile panic button once activated.
The organisation said it remains committed to playing its part in keeping women safe.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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