Know who you can call in an emergency

2017
Western Cape Government
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woman with smartphone

Every second counts in an emergency and could mean the difference between life and death. Currently, there’s no single emergency number in South Africa so it’s very important for you to have the correct contact details handy for a speedy response to your specific emergency.

Before you call:

Always make sure that it’s a real emergency before you call as tying up emergency lines could lead to the prolonged suffering or death of someone else.
 

When calling an emergency number, make sure that you have the following information ready:

  • Specific details about the location (address) of the incident or potential patient. Provide landmarks if you can.
  • Specific details of the incident. Speak clearly and calmly to the person taking your call.
  • Specific details about the contact person (name and telephone number). Make sure that the telephone line is available until emergency services arrive at the scene.

Depending on the nature of your emergency, you can call the appropriate emergency number below:
 

Police Flying Squad 10111
Ambulance 10177
City of Cape Town general emergency 107
Cell phone Emergency 112 (MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom)
Fire departments Please see your district municipality for emergency contact numbers.
Fire and Rescue Services  
  • City of Cape Town headquarters

Landline: 107

Cell phone: 021 480 7700
  • Southern district
 Wynberg Fire Station: 021 444 9598
  • Table Bay district
 Roeland Street Fire Station: 021 444 2223
  • Blaauwberg district

Milnerton Fire Station: 021 550 1347/444 7613

Atlantis Fire Station: 021 573 7083
  • Northern / Tygerberg district
 Bellville Fire Station: 021 444 8298/88
  • Cape Flats / Khayelitsha district

Mitchells Plain Fire Station: 021 444 3090

Gugulethu Fire Station: 021 444 5480
  • Helderberg district
 Strand Fire Station: 021 444 0391/4
  • Overberg District Municipality
 028 425 1690
  • West Coast District Municipality
 022 433 8700
  • Eden District Municipality
 044 805 5071
  • Central Karoo District Municipality
 023 414 2603
  • Cape Winelands District Municipality
 021 887 4446
Disaster Risk Management Centre 080 911 HELP (4357)
Lifeline 021 461 1113
Red Cross Children's Hospital Poison Line & the Tygerberg Hospital Poison Information Centre 0861 555 777
Child Emergency 0800 123 123
Sea Rescue  
  • Cape Town
 021 449 3500
  • Saldahna
 022 714 1726
  • Mossel Bay
 044 604 6271
Mountain Rescue 021 948 9900
Electricity 0860 103 089 (City of Cape Town only)
Water (24 hours) 0860 103 089 (City of Cape Town only)
Safe Schools call centre 0800 454 647
Crime Stop 0860 010 111
Bureau of Missing Persons 021 918 3512 / 3449 / 3452
Childline

0800 055 555

021 461 1113
AIDS Helpline 0800 012 322
Animal Welfare 021 534 6426
SASSA Helpline 0800 601 011
Western Cape Government 0860 142 142  (7:30am - 4pm,  Monday to Friday)


Ambulance

Other relevant information: 
The content on this page was last updated on 19 December 2017