In South Africa, the rate at which women are killed by an intimate partner is five times higher than the global average. This is according to an article about gender-based violence published by the National Library of Medicine, written by Professor Indiran Govender,  This indicates how devastating the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) has become in our country.

Add to this the fact that South Africa is perceived as the rape capital of the world, with an estimated 10,818 cases reported in the first quarter of 2022 alone (plus there are many incidents that go unreported), and the picture becomes even bleaker.

The Bright Sky SA App: A Ray of Sunshine During Dark Times

But not everyone is sitting on their hands while the stats continue to rise. Vodacom, South Africa's most reliable mobile network and one of its leading tech companies, has an app to assist anyone who feels like they may be in an abusive relationship.

This app is called the Bright Sky App and is available on Android and iOS. Launched in November 2020, the app offers information about GBV, its different forms, and also offers various case studies on the subject. It also allows users to assess whether they are in an abusive relationship through a questionnaire.

Other Features Of The Bright Sky App

• A unique countrywide directory of specialist GBV support services, so you can contact your nearest service by phone from the app, search by area name, or use your current location.
• Contact details and the ability to call national helplines that provide support for those affected by GBV.
• A My Journal tool, where incidents of abuse can be logged in text, audio, video, or photo form. None of this content is saved on the device or the app and users have to email this evidence to their personal email address for record purposes.
• Questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship, plus a section on dispelling myths about GBV.
• Information about GBV, the different types of support available, tips to improve your online safety, and how to help someone you know who is experiencing GBV.
• Advice and information on issues related to sexual offences and domestic violence and links to further resources and information.
• The app also uses geolocation to show users where their nearest support services are in South Africa.

It also has a directory for police stations, hospitals, and NGOs across the country. By educating people and providing practical advice on what to do, Bright Sky serves as a resource for anyone directly affected by abuse or who wants to empower themselves to help someone else. The app does not share any personal details and ensures the complete privacy of its users.

Things to Remember About The Bright Sky App

• Bright Sky South Africa is an information app, not a safety app.
• If you ever feel in immediate danger, contact 0800 428 428, SMS HELP to 31531 Or send a Please Call Me to 1207867
• Members of the deaf community can Skype the contact "Helpme GBV".
• Do not download the app if you are concerned that someone else has access to your phone or cloud information
• Only download Bright Sky South Africa onto a device that you feel safe using and that only you have access to.
• Before using the app's My Journal tool, make sure that you have an email address that is safe and that nobody else has access to. If you need to, you can set up a new one or use the email address of someone you trust.
• Please be aware that any calls made through the app will show in your phone's call history and on the bill payer's phone bill.
• Only take the questionnaires in a private place, preferably on your own so that nobody is able to influence the outcome.

Remember - always use covert mode. When closing the app, ensure that the covert mode is resumed, as the covert mode is not the default. Press the cloud icon to turn the app to covert mode.

Fighting Gender-Based Violence Together

Vodacom is using its purpose of connecting people through technology to tackle the scourge of GBV. If you hear something, do something. The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre operates 24/7.