My Smart City is a free, privately funded citizens’ platform for real-time logging and tracking of service delivery.

Developed by Acumen Software, the platform has recently launched its 'In the City' functionality, aimed at giving city residents more ways to connect to their city.

"The new feature integrates into local leisure offerings, invaluable performance insights, and value-added services (VAS). The goal is to boost citizen activity, positively affecting the economy," says  Acumen Software CEO Joao Zoio.

The award-winning South African platform allows residents to effect change by logging service delivery issues and tracking resolutions to their queries in real-time.

As a follow-up to its social media feed, which shares information such as load-shedding schedules and alerts from community members, My Smart City’s 'In the City' functionality offers four new categories of information:

Local Insights: Allows citizens to view reports and statistics on issue resolution. The breakdown includes the number of problems fixed, the time taken to fix them, an age analysis of open issues and how their ward or city compares to others.

Purchases: This function opens access to VAS with in-app purchases of airtime, data and lotto tickets, backed by a secure and encrypted payment solution. The ability to purchase prepaid electricity will also soon be available. 

Places of Interest: A digital directory with information on tourist attractions such as landmarks, galleries, parks, and museums, including details such as trading hours, location and other information.

What's on in your City: Provides information on social, sporting and music events with seamless booking and payment functionality.

"We are excited about the 'What's on in your City' and 'Places of Interest' categories with the potential to build local tourism. South Africa's tourism industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. With 'In the City' features, citizens are encouraged to explore their cities and support local tourism,” notes Acumen Software COO Kennedy Mogotsi.

The ‘In the City’ function encourages active citizenry through its 'Local Insights' category, offering insights into municipal wards' performance, making citizens aware of issues and activities in local neighbourhoods and comparing one wards' performance to another. These insights aim to promote transparency and accountability and strengthen the voice of citizens.

"One of our goals has always been to encourage active citizenry whereby users become agents of change. This feature enables users to pinpoint issues, share problem-solving ideas and support municipalities through active citizenship,” adds Zoio.