South African citizen engagement platform, GovChat, has emerged from its recent legal tussles with Facebook to acquire more than 8 million users. This is an increase of nearly three million users over the previous year, and comes nearly four years after the communications platform launched in 2017.
GovChat claims to have processed 500 million messages and 80 million PWA page views. Furthermore, 53 percent of females and 47 percent of males use the communication platform.
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According to the service, 61 percent of its customers are between the ages of 18 and 34. Users aged 35 to 54 account for 28% of the population, while those aged 55 and beyond account for 11%.
Despite a few bumps in the road, GovChat is credited with enabling the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in allowing residents to apply for COVID-19 Social Relief Distress (SRD) funds.
Last year, GovChat announced that their automated contact center service, which manages commonly asked questions on social media concerning the COVID-19 SRD grant, saved SASSA R7.5 million.
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SASSA adopted GovChat as one of the internet methods for beneficiaries to submit their applications for the resumed R350 social assistance payments earlier this month.
According to GovChat, 11 million SRD grant applications have been submitted thus far. The portal processed 5.4 million SRD grant applications last year.
It notes, “What has been interesting from a GovChat viewpoint is the number of people who applied for the SRD funds and utilize an iPhone.”
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GovChat was founded by Eldrid Jordaan in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. It was launched as a progressive web app (PWA) to increase citizen involvement with local government.
GovChat users GovChat users
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer