Gauteng e-Panic Button faces scrutiny over security breach

The Gauteng Department of e-Government is facing scrutiny following a security incident involving its e-Panic Button, a digital safety service used by residents to summon emergency assistance.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced plans to report the incident to the Information Regulator, alleging that the unsecured database exposed sensitive data. According to the DA, the breach included names, phone numbers, locations, and movement histories of crime reporters, as well as details regarding domestic violence and assault reports. The party is calling for an investigation into potential violations of the Protection of Personal Information Act and has requested that the department appear before the legislature’s oversight committee.

In response, the Gauteng Department of e-Government stated that it identified an attempted security breach and acted decisively to address vulnerabilities. MEC for e-Government Research and Development Bonginkosi Dhlamini maintained that no citizens’ personal information was compromised. The department characterized the incident as involving a highly specialized organization and asserted that corrective measures were implemented promptly to strengthen security controls.