Johannesburg, South Africa, 3rd June 2026 – AURA, a life-saving technology platform making emergency response services more accessible and affordable, today announced its partnership with Discovery Insure, a division of Discovery Limited, to power the security response component of its new Discovery 911 virtual panic button offering.
Available through the Discovery Insure app, Discovery 911 provides users access to emergency medical and security when it is most needed. Users can trigger an alert by pressing the virtual panic button in the app. For security-related emergencies, alerts are routed through AURA’s technology platform to the nearest vetted private, armed response provider, enabling rapid dispatch and real-time assistance.
This offering is built on integrated technology solutions, including Discovery Insure’s advanced emergency response ecosystem, which combines telematics technology, real-time intelligence, the Insure24 call centre, and AURA’s intelligent security dispatch platform, supported by an extensive national private response network. This network includes more than 2,500 response vehicles and over 5,400 armed responders across South Africa, with an average response time of under ten minutes.
“Discovery 911 is an important step in making emergency assistance more accessible to South Africans,” said Warren Myers, CEO and co-founder of AURA. “By combining Discovery’s trusted customer platform with AURA’s safety dispatch technology and responder network, we are helping ensure that Discovery Insure clients across South Africa can access security support quickly when they need it most.”
The partnership comes at a time when personal safety remains a priority for many South Africans, with growing demand for fast, reliable private security services. Through Discovery 911, users can access trusted armed response support quickly and discreetly wherever they carry their phone, as well as emergency medical assistance through Netcare911, creating an integrated emergency support solution from as little as R55 per month.
“This partnership represents a major step forward in our mission to make emergency response quicker and more accessible for all South Africans,” added Myers.
“The launch of the Discovery 911 virtual panic button is a natural extension of Discovery Insure’s innovation legacy, and aligns to our mandate to create a safer society for all. In collaboration with our partners, we are proud to offer a proactive risk solution, ensuring that everyone has access to the highest standard of personal and home safety,” says Precious Nduli, Chief Commercial Officer at Discovery Insure.
The Discovery 911 virtual panic button is now available through the Discovery Insure app.
About AURA
AURA was born in 2017 out of the critical need to make private emergency and security response services more accessible and affordable. As a result, AURA has created South Africa’s largest response network of over 3000 security and medical responders. Regardless of income brackets South Africans can now access security and medical response services instantly using a connected device. AURA integrates smart and scalable technology into existing customer portals, for instance, using API integration, WhatsApp, customised apps, or various IoT devices. Consequently, users are now able to offer their staff and customers instant emergency assistance as a free or paid for value-added service.
About Discovery Insure
Discovery Insure, a division of Discovery Limited, was established in 2011 to offer flexible, innovative and comprehensive car, home and travel insurance built on the Group’s Shared‑value model. As a disruptor in South Africa’s short‑term insurance market, Discovery Insure introduced telematics‑based vehicle insurance to the South African market and continues to lead through its behaviour‑change incentive programme, Vitality Drive. This award‑winning programme rewards clients for driving well and contributes to reducing accidents, injuries and fatalities, thereby enhancing the safety of clients and broader society.
