The idea started two years ago, purely by a chance appeal on the radio to help find a missing child. Andre Snyman, owner of a transport company in Johannesburg, heard the message and thought that there must be a way of getting this message across a network via SMS, similar to the way he kept in touch with his fleet of trucks. He

knew that technology could be used as an effective communication tool, and so he did some investigation. Shortly thereafter, Eblockwatch was formed.

Andre explains the concept: members of the public sign up for the SMS service via the Eblockwatch website, and then contact a central number managed by Andre to report crimes or suspicious activity. Andre then relays this message on to an area coordinator where the activity was reported, who then sends the message onto the network via SMS, warning subscribers to be alert. Should a subscriber then, for example, see a vehicle that has recently been reported hijacked, he or she could in turn report this to Andre, who is constantly in touch with the police. The network then closes around the criminal, reducing crime in the area.

Andre believes that the service is an excellent tool for warning people about high alert zones, for example traffic lights with regular occurrences of "snatch and grabs", giving communities more control over their own safety. Eblockwatch is also endorsed by the South African Police, who receive notifications directly via their cellphones enabling them to respond faster, while the server and call centre has been sponsored by Dimension Data. Andre initially contacted various corporations for further sponsorship, however he found that they tended to take too long to make important decisions, so he decided to take control again, and now relies heavily on community funding.

Andre soon realised that the success of Eblockwatch as a community tool could have great implications for tourism. He felt that there was a need in South Africa to help tourists to feel safe at all times, and so he launched Eblockwatch's subsidiary, SA Travel Buddy, endorsed by The AA Travel Guide and the International Marketing Council of South Africa. SA Travel Buddy works in the same way as Eblockwatch, using SMS to keep in touch with tourists throughout their stay in South Africa.

Andre explains: "The SA Travel Buddy system links international visitors to local hosts as they move around South Africa. All we need to know is their itinerary - and then once the visitor arrives, they activate their membership by giving us their cell phone number, and then the relevant Buddy will keep in touch with the visitor as they travel around South Africa. The Buddy then ensures that the visitor is having a good time, offering streetwise tips, guidance, and even helping out if the visitor is in trouble." Andre believes that the service has excellent potential in creating goodwill in South Africa, and has received enormous positive feedback from visitors.

Andre highlights one of the successes as being a group of Canadian students who were in South Africa to work as volunteers in township schools. They were looked after by Eblockwatch members in Alexandra, and felt so safe that they enjoyed street parties in the evening and were entertained to a farewell goat and pap party by the Eblockwatch members when they left - a far cry from the gangs and violence that one usually associates with township living.

Eblockwatch has also received great success in combating crime, the most recent being the recovery of a hijacked truckload full of stolen tires worth R500 000, as well as apprehending a known felon wanted for the murder of seven people. Andre comments that although he struggled at first to get people involved, communities are now starting to see the bigger picture, and gain tremendous self-satisfaction and security by being able to help. He is in the process of setting up small support groups in various neighbourhoods, with a primary contact person who will alert the area network in the event of any problems.

Andre's main concern at present is the cost of the SMS's. He makes no money off the initiative, and relies on his coordinators to raise funds for their communities to continue with the program. He has found that the burden of the costs as much easier to manage if the communities agree to split the costs - so the more members the cheaper is becomes. He has high hopes for the future of Eblockwatch, believing that the more people who subscribe, the bigger the network, and the more effective it will be.

His final message: Eblockwatch is an example of ubuntu in action. I can, We can, South AfriCAN.

Andre can be contacted on 082 561 1065 or email ryfsny@yebo.co.za. Visit the websites at www.eblockwatch.co.za or www.satravelbuddy.co.za.