In light of 16 Days of Activism against the violence of women and children and to prevent GBV, James Baloyi and Derik Sadiki have created a mobile app called DCHECK which seeks to create a safer experience for users of e-hailing services.
An e-hailing service is a form of transportation pick up requested with a virtual device such as a cellphone. The app allows users to file reports about their trips, which other users of the app can then view. “I have always wanted to build software that benefits people,” said Baloyi.
DCHECK users can give reports about the driver by using the number plate of the vehicle. The app also contains a panic button in case users finds themselves in a dangerous situation.“The user stores two contacts as emergency contacts. When they press the panic button, the live location and number plate of the vehicle will be shared to the contacts,” explained Baloyi.
He was good at Maths and Science in school, and initially wanted to study civil engineering, but he got bored with it quickly. “This is when I decided that maybe I should start exploring software and app development. I went to WeThinkCode and did their Bootcamp, and then started figuring things out a bit on my own, researching and practising coding. I freelanced for a while and then landed my first job,” said Baloyi.
The young man highlighted that over the past few years, the IT industry has changed. “It used to be that you absolutely had to have qualifications to find a job. But as tech companies started getting bigger, this faded away. Today, you just need a lot of passion, and tech companies will give you the opportunity to show that you can meet the requirements of the job, “he concluded.
The DCHECK app can be downloaded on Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
