South African buddy system protects tourists

Travellers heading for South Africa can now take advantage of a “buddy system” set up to protect visitors from a seemingly ever-increasing incidence of violent crime. According to a report in The Times, the initiative is the brainchild of 49-year-old Andre Snyman, who founded Travel Buddy because he was horrified at the increasing number of attacks on tourists. The non-profit mobile phone system is aiming to provide visitors with “a friend in every town and city”. To register, the newspaper reports, travellers pay 240 rand (GBP21) to become part of a network manned by an army of 15,000 volunteers – all keen to see South Africa become a tourist destination that is not plagued by violence. Subscribers can then call if they are “caught up in road accidents, think they are being followed by hijackers, or just want a good place for dinner”. Mr Snyman is quoted as saying: “I want to make sure that Ubuntu (the traditional African community spirit), not crime, is the lasting memory of every tourist visiting these shores.” For more information visit http://www.satravelbuddy.co.za/