“Our bodies are not disposable, and coming home should never be a privilege”.
This was the heartfelt message from one local running club earlier this week, honouring a fallen runner who had lost her life to a senseless murder, adding to a growing number of recent murders of women across South Africa.
These women were mothers, daughters, sisters and aunts to someone who loved them. South Africa has been left in deep shock, reeling from what in the past weeks has become an almost daily spate and a daily reminder of the very-real safety concerns the women of our country face.
It is in times like these that public and private partnerships should be sought to find solutions. Society needs to stop and have that honest look in the mirror. What are we doing to actively promote and protect the lives of the women of South Africa. As an organisation with tens of thousands of female members this was a question that struck deep. What could we, as the AA, do that would have a real and meaningful impact in this fight for safety that so many in our society face daily.
The answer surfaced through what we stand for as an organisation. Promoting accessible, affordable and safe mobility is fundamental in the work we do, safety is more than simply the crash test and recall results we call out weekly. The Femicide challenge facing so many comes back to life-threatening dangers in basic human rights activities, like pedestrians walking to work or simply exercising at the end of a long day. Every AA employee has access to free Armed Response; we’re now spreading this lifesaving net much wider.
Today, the Automobile Association of South Africa announces accessible armed response for every female in South Africa, at no cost. The service will be valid for thirty days from registration, will require a visit to our website to activate, and will be backed by numerous armed-response partners across SA. There are zero hidden fees or strings attached, and there will be no automatic fee opt-in after the thirty-day period. All you will need to do after registering on our website is to download the MyAA app, the home of the virtual panic-button needed to hail your guard when you’re in need.
“It is both sad and unfortunate that as a society we’ve gotten to this space,” says CEO of the Automobile Association, Bobby Ramagwede. “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. We challenge all corporates to do the same; dig deep and do something, every action adds up and certainly makes a difference.
“Make sure that the women in your circle, be it an employee or a family member, sign-up for this vital offering. Also consider keeping them safe through this offering after the thirty days, this is an issue that won’t be solved for in the short term. It is a systemic issue, the AA’s efforts serve as an interim remedy, it allows for a refocus by authorities on unacceptable crime levels and for priorities to be reestablished going forward.
“It is thus in these times of extreme adversity, when a basic need like personal safety is questioned, that it becomes the AA’s role to stop, reflect, and act. As an association that has been a part of the fabric of South Africa for almost a century, it is a privilege to do what we can to better the lives of women facing these challenges. This service offering will provide much-needed relief from the anxiety being experienced by so many every day”.
The process is simple. Visit www.aa.co.za, sign up for Armed Response, after which, download the MyAA app, and activate your free Armed Response service on the app. Your phone becomes your mobile panic button – help will be sent to you anywhere and anytime.
Ultimately, it is all our duty to keep the women of South Africa safe.