Thulile Mthethwa personally experienced the devastation of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa when her sister was brutally attacked in Tembisa. But she used the experience for good, founding her startup, Memeza, in 2012.
Memeza empowers South Africa’s most vulnerable communities through the use of tangible safety technology, directly linked with Community Policing Forums (CPFs), neighbours, family, friends, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The startup has developed and manufactures the country’s first Public Alarm System, endorsed by the government and linked to community response networks. The system enables communities to self-police, and improves police response times to crime.
Mthethwa was joined in 2015 by now-CEO Elmarie Pereira, who had previously lost her sister to GBV. The pair are tackling serious issues with their tech. South Africa is ranked as the fifth most dangerous country in the world, with alarming levels of GBV and violent crime.
“Thirty-eight million people live in townships, informal settlements, and rural areas with no access to private security services. These communities rely primarily on public services like SAPS and community-driven crime prevention,” said Mthethwa.
Memeza is helping marginalised communities, which are underserved and viewed as too risky for private security services. To address this, it developed a process- and technology-driven solution aimed at reducing GBV and crime in these communities.
“Through a public-private partnership model, Memeza has created a social enterprise that serves both paying and non-paying communities,” said Mthethwa.
Memeza collaborates with the private security industry, working with partners like Business Against Crime, Eyes and Ears Project, AURA, SAFERCITY, and BLUE HAWK.
“Rather than competing, Memeza joins forces with these organisations to fight crime, especially in high-risk, underserved communities,” Mthethwa said.
Memeza has partnered with over 240 police stations across South Africa, improving SAPS response times to crime by 89 oer cent. To date, Memeza has reached 243 communities nationally, created over 3,000 community-based jobs, and deployed more than 5,000 community policing alarms.
“In addition, over one million personal alarms have been distributed to vulnerable individuals in nine provinces,” Mthethwa said.
The company operates through a dual revenue model. For communities that can afford it, products are sold directly.
“For those that cannot, Memeza relies on government and corporate sponsorships. This model allows Memeza to provide safety solutions across various income levels,” Mthethwa said.
Key achievements include a 67 per cent reduction in sexual offenses during a pilot in Mashamplane, Johannesburg, and a 98 per cent theft prevention rate in over 180 no-fee rural and township schools, where ICT labs are also protected. Currently, it operates exclusively in South Africa, but plans to expand to other African countries where GBV is prevalent.
“Over the next five years, Memeza aims to have an 80 per cent footprint in South Africa and 20 per cent in the broader African market,” said Mthethwa.
