2 weeks Ago By Thabiso Moloi
The My Safe Space initiative aims to make schools a safer space for learners, educators and communities through the use of sophisticated, internet-based surveillance technology. This comes on the back of school-related incidents (of crime and violence) becoming increasingly commonplace in South Africa. It is founded by James Dalton, former Springbok rugby legend, and in partnership with the JD Group, Itec SA, a technology solutions provider, Vuma, South Africa’s leading fibre network operator (FNO), Vumacam, Regal Distributors and Hikvision.
The initiative aims to provide comprehensive security management to address the prevailing safety challenges faced by South African schools. “My Safe Space represents a proactive, comprehensive and sustainable approach to school safety and security. It addresses common threats faced by learners and educators, creating a safer environment for students,” says Dalton.
“From suspicious vehicle activity and loitering around school perimeters to common issues like phone snatching, bullying and general security concerns, we can leverage technology to help bring an end to these problems.” Leveraging latest tech for school safety The deployed technology includes a Guardian Column, the main physical structure that houses two Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and an AI-enabled overview camera that uses machine-learning to identify unusual behaviour and alert on vehicles of interest for situational awareness. Vumacam’s platform is also integrated with the software to provide data analytics, alerts, and emergency notifications sent directly to the school’s security group.
“By integrating our advanced systems technology with the My Safe Space initiative, we are not only enhancing safety measures within schools but also contributing to a more secure learning environment for all. Our goal is to create safer spaces for students and educators, allowing them to focus on learning and development without the constant worry of external threats,” says Michael Varney, Chief Commercial Officer at Vumacam. Leaning into the system’s preventative approach to safety and security, Talton Cooke, Strategic Account Manager at Itec Direct, emphasises that the system’s recognition software and alert capabilities will assist in addressing the rising trend of ‘express kidnapping’ taking place in South Africa.
“Express kidnapping is growing at an alarming rate. This type of kidnapping involves criminals demanding a smaller, more immediate ransom to secure the safe return of a loved one. The My Safe Space product is specifically designed to combat this trend,” says Cooke.
My Safe Space rollout: #SaferTogether After a successful POC of the system at Jeppe High School for Boys, where James attended school, Vuma provided free 1Gbps fibre broadband as part of its Vuma Fibre to Schools programme . This initiative has connected over 800 registered schools in the regions where it operates. The system has effectively detected safety and security incidents and has been well received by both students and educators.
“We are grateful to Mr Dalton and My Safe Space for contributing to the security and safety of not only our learners and staff but the greater community,” says Kevin Jarvis, Business Manager at Jeppe High School for Boys. Echoing this perspective, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Chief Commercial Officer at Vuma, highlights the broader mission of empowering learners. “Making learning and educational opportunities readily accessible to schoolgoers is a fundamental aspect of empowering both learners and communities.
Moreover, ensuring learner safety both inside and outside school premises is crucial to achieving this objective,” he says. “By partnering with the My Safe Space initiative, we are leveraging our fibre network capabilities to support a system that addresses critical safety challenges in schools. This initiative allows us to make a tangible impact on communities.
” While schools can either purchase the solution outright or opt for rental, lower-ranked quintile schools (i.e., ‘no fee paying’, government-funded schools) can benefit from the non-profit arm established by My Safe Space, which provides safety and security features to schools without a budget.
“We will seek donor funding to support our objectives of providing security technology systems to the schools and communities that need them the most in our country,” Dalton concludes..
