Creating change through ideas was the challenge and due to a near-tragic incident involving his friend, a first-year engineering student at Stellenbosch University (SU), came up with an idea to help fight crime.
Recently crime has been a hot topic for Stellenbosch with various serious crimes taking place this year. Kidnappings, murder and gang violence were just some of the incidents that took place over this past year.
As part of annual #IdeasForChange Social Innovation Challenge, presented by the Stellenbosch Network, Tumelo Mokoena submitted his SafeGuard Stellies idea. He is this year’s winner, with Luke van Wyk’s Minibus Matie and Chiedza Vushe’s Scam Alert taken second and third place, respectively.
Mokoena received R20 000 towards making his idea a reality.
SafeGuard Stellies is a comprehensive, three-part safety solution comprising a mobile app, panic bracelet and drones. SafeGuard Stellies has essential safety features, including a panic button, location tracker and safety tips. The bracelet is meant to be a discreet device to send alerts without using a cellphone. Lastly, drones equipped with live cameras, sirens and lights would be sent out to the scene of the crime.
According to the #IdeasforChange team although the business is still in its ideation phase it has immense potential to improve safety in the town and beyond.
Mokoena came to Stellenbosch to pursue his B.Eng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His passion for tech enthusiast and a keen interest in innovations like SpaceX launches, help him become an entrepreneur, although that wasn’t his main aim. However, after a close friend was mugged and wounded, Mokoena noted a sudden surge in crime, and that the current system was not able to reach victims in time. His leadership experiences, such as serving as head boy at high school and being president of the Tshwane South District RCL, motivated him to start thinking about solutions.
“Winning the #Ideasforchange Challenge is a major milestone,” Mokoena said. “It gave the project momentum, and the support from Stellenbosch Network has been incredibly encouraging.”
The business is now on track to launch key components such as the mobile app and panic bracelets, with plans to develop drone technology in the next phase. “Next, we will focus on building a strong team, expanding our online presence and launching our products,” Mokoena said. “The goal is to generate revenue from the app and bracelets to fund drone development and secure the necessary operational licences.”
Partnerships with Stellenbosch University, the local municipality, and security networks will be key to scaling the business. “Our vision is to build an ‘Uber for Safety,’ not just for students, but for the broader Stellenbosch community,” Mokoena said.
The Stellenbosch Network thanks all the sponsors who made the Challenge possible – Stellenbosch University, The Department of Science and Innovation’s Regional Innovation Support Programme, Ranyaka Community Transformation and Launchlab.
“A huge thank you to all of the finalists for their incredible ideas and commitment to creating a positive impact on our community,” the organisation said in a statement. “We would also like to extend our gratitude to the judges: Marli Goussard (Ranyaka Community Transformation), Lesley van Gensen (Stellenbosch Municipality), and Sara (Saartjie) Grobbelaar (Stellenbosch University: Faculty of Engineering) for their invaluable support.
