Umzamo Wabatsha Launches Hoodly App in Pumula

By Denzel Tshuma

Umzamo Wabatsha has launched a digital application aimed at connecting Pumula residents with local authorities, while providing a platform for reporting community concerns, accessing alerts and sharing skills.

Speaking at the launch at Silwane Youth Centre on Thursday, the organisation’s executive director, Jabulile Siwela, said the Hoodly application would also offer a marketplace for users to promote goods and services, alongside weather and crime alerts.

“The application uses color-coded status levels: green indicates that a problem has been reported, yellow shows that the councillor or city council has seen the report, and white signifies that the issue has been acknowledged or is currently being attended to. We have successfully engaged the City Council to be an integral part of Hoodly,” said Siwela.

The application is also expected to involve ward councillors, who would help respond to residents’ reports and notifications, working alongside the local authority.

However, its effectiveness will depend on how quickly reported concerns are addressed and how widely residents and local authorities adopt the platform.