BulkSMS.com, a Cape Town based messaging service provider, recorded its highest ever monthly SMS volumes on the Community.BulkSMS messaging platform during the recent refugee crisis fomented by xenophobic violence against foreign nationals. These above average SMS statistics for organisations within South Africa's civil society were largely based on calls for volunteers and essential items to assist displaced African immigrants.

"We have a large number of NGOS, faith-based organisations and schools across the country registered on our Community.BulkSMS service. Daily messaging traffic during May of this year more than doubled as the refugee crisis broke out," said Dr Pieter Streicher, managing director of BulkSMS.com.

One such NGO was SHAWCO, the Students' Health and Welfare Centres Organisation based at the University of Cape Town, which successfully used the Community.BulkSMS messaging platform to coordinate relief efforts to assist foreign nationals who fled from areas in Cape Town due to xenophobic violence. SHAWCO sent bulk SMS messages to mobilise student and medical volunteers, sent notifications of emergency meetings, and arranged for the collection of blankets and food for immigrants.

"BulkSMS.com's community messaging solution has been fantastic. The sending of bulk SMS messages was massively helpful in coordinating efforts to assist displaced immigrants. The ability to contact volunteers directly on their cellphones enabled us to quickly mobilise a large number of volunteers to help as the refugee crisis was beginning," said Wendy Lewin, from SHAWCO's health sector.