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People often notice problems in their communities but hesitate to report them. They may fear conflict with neighbours, intimidation, or being identified by those involved.

The free iER app offers a safer way to speak up. Its Infrastructure Reporting tool includes an Anonymous Violation category, allowing users to report suspected municipal by-law violations without revealing their identity.

Here is what you can report and how to use the feature responsibly.

Damage to Public Infrastructure

Vandalised streetlights, damaged road signs, and deliberate damage to municipal property can make an area unsafe. These problems may lead to road accidents, crime, injuries, and interruptions to essential services.

Suspected infrastructure damage can be reported anonymously. Give the exact location, explain what you saw, and never put yourself in danger to gather more information.

The app also has dedicated categories for specific problems, including:

• Potholes.
• Faulty or damaged robots.
• Fallen trees.
• Cable theft.
• Electricity faults.
• Missed refuse collections, illegal dumping, or overflowing bins.
• Blocked drains, flooding, or stormwater-system failures.
• Burst pipes, water leaks, sewer blockages, or sanitation problems.

Choosing the right category helps iER’s Response Agents understand the problem and determine where the report should be directed.

Suspected Illegal Activity

The Anonymous Violation category can be used to report suspected illegal or suspicious activities connected to municipal by-laws and public safety.

Only report something you witnessed or have reasonable grounds to suspect. Include useful information, such as the address, time, how often the activity occurs, and why it may place people or the community at risk.

Never confront anyone, enter private property, or try to collect evidence if doing so could place you in danger. The feature must not be used to harass somebody, make false accusations, or settle a personal dispute.

Animal Abuse

Suspected animal abuse or neglect can also be reported anonymously. Warning signs may include an animal being deliberately hurt, kept without suitable shelter, or repeatedly left without food or water.

Provide the location, the number and type of animals involved, and a clear description of what you saw. Do not enter the property or confront the suspected abuser.

If an animal is in immediate danger, make the urgency clear. This can help iER’s Response Agents direct the concern to an appropriate animal welfare organisation or emergency service.

Expired Goods

Food and other products sold after a use-by or expiry date may be unsafe. However, a best-before date usually relates to quality, so food is not necessarily unsafe simply because this date has passed.

Poor storage, damaged packaging, and incorrect temperatures can make a product unsafe, even before the date printed on the packaging.

Suspected expired or unsafe goods can be reported anonymously through the iER app. Include the name and location of the spaza shop, supermarket, or business, the type of product, the date printed on it, and any other safety concerns.

Do not share unconfirmed accusations on social media or in community WhatsApp groups. Report the concern through the proper channel so that it can be assessed fairly.

Unlicensed Businesses

Certain businesses need municipal licences, permits, or certificates to operate legally. The requirements depend on the type of goods sold or services provided.

If you reasonably suspect that a business is operating without the necessary approval, you can report the concern anonymously. Focus on what you have seen, and avoid making claims you cannot confirm.

Illegal Dumping and Other Service Problems

Illegal dumping should usually be reported under the app’s dedicated Waste Management category. This category also covers missed refuse collections and overflowing bins.

Use the relevant Infrastructure Reporting category for potholes, burst pipes, faulty robots, exposed electrical wires, fallen trees, blocked drains, and other service-delivery problems.

The Anonymous Violation category is mainly intended for alleged municipal by-law violations and unsafe, illegal, or suspicious activities when the person reporting the matter wants to protect their identity.

What Happens After You Submit a Report?

Open Infrastructure Reporting in the iER app, and select the category that best describes the problem. The app will guide you through the process and ask for information such as:

• The exact GPS location or a manually entered address.
• A description of the problem.
• How serious or urgent it is.

A case is then created in the iER system for tracking purposes. The information is sent to iER’s Response Agents, who may log or escalate the report to the relevant municipal department or public service provider on a best-efforts basis.

The iER case number is for internal tracking. It is not an official reference number from a municipality or government department.

iER is a private emergency-response service. It does not control or guarantee how quickly a municipality, public authority, or other service provider will investigate or resolve the matter. For an official municipal reference number, you may still need to report the problem directly through your municipality’s service-delivery channels.

Know When to Use an Emergency Alert

Anonymous reporting is not a replacement for emergency assistance. If a crime is taking place, somebody is injured, a fire has started, or lives are in immediate danger, use an iER emergency alert instead.

When mobile internet and location services are enabled, an alert shares the user’s real-time GPS location with iER’s 24/7 control centre. The team assesses the emergency and helps connect the user with an appropriate medical or non-medical service from iER’s nationwide network of more than 18,000 service providers.

The app is free to use and is available for Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS devices.

Conclusion

The iER app gives residents a practical way to report suspected by-law violations, infrastructure damage, animal abuse, expired goods, unlicensed businesses, and other community concerns while protecting their identity.

Choosing the correct category and providing clear, honest information can help ensure that the report reaches the appropriate municipal department or public service channel. In a life-threatening situation, use an iER emergency alert to connect with its 24/7 control centre.