Zulu royal partners with entities, government to launch GBV app
ZULU King MisuZulu kaZwelithini has joined the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) by partnering with private entities and government to launch South Africa’s first GBV app known as Eyerus.
Speaking at the app launch, MisuZulu said GBV was a generational curse that had to end and that the new Eyerus app is the solution that’s been long-awaited.
“It gives me great encouragement and support being one of the leaders in the country who is part of the biggest tribal grouping in the Southern Hemisphere, which is the Zulu people.
“Today I thank Eyerus for allowing me to pledge my support and give advice on where we stand as traditional leadership when it comes to what they are doing for us as a country.
“It is a great problem to all of us that the very soul of our society is plagued by generational curses and violence which should come to an end,” MisuZulu said.
Eyerus is the first-of-its-kind app and is expected to be a game-changer and make it safer for everyone. In light of 16 days of activism, the Eyerus app is set to spark conversations about the scourge of abuse towards women, children and the LGBTQIA+ community as well as holding perpetrators accountable.
The app also includes a panel of intersecting activists from various sectors
The internationally patented automated algorithm mobile app was founded by 2019 Survivor SA winner, Rob Bentele, who describes the app as a gateway to combat contact crime and provide social protection for all, especially women and members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Bentele said no person can promise to keep an eye on anyone 24/7, but a program can.
“After winning Survivor, there was a lot of expectation for me to pursue a career in entertainment which was appealing but I’ve always been more about positive social change. I am solutions-driven and that’s just how my mind works.
“Finding the solution to this scourge of gender-based violence is how Eyerus was born,” said Bentele.
He added that Eyerus enables you to indicate how safe or unsafe you feel in your current surroundings through the use of four safety status modes.
The app also has the ability to detect if you have been drugged, unconscious or incapacitated and captures all evidence on a secure cloud.
“You literally don’t have to do anything, Eyerus will handle the situation on your behalf,” said Bentele.
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu joined the launch via Zoom and pledged her support for Eyerus.
“We should not be proud that this is still a conversation that we have to have,” said Zulu.