Captain urges – do not abuse emergency number
FOURWAYS – Gauteng residents should only call 10111 in an emergency and should not abuse the system, said Captain Pinky Tsinyane in a statement to the media.
The police are pleading with all community members to stop abusing the 10111 emergency line.
In a statement released to the media by police spokesperson Captain Pinky Tsinyane, she said, “We are the South African Police Service front liners who are committed to every citizen’s safety as per our core function. We are serving an estimate of 14.7 million people of Gauteng.
“It is in this regard that we say that all communities, especially children should be educated about the importance of the 10111 Emergency Line. We are receiving a high volume of abusive, hoax and prank calls that are made by both children and adults. This type of behaviour is making it difficult for the public who need police assistance urgently to get help.
“SAPS condemns such behaviour because it may even cost lives. When the public call the emergency number responsibly, lives will be saved, more crimes will be prevented and more suspects will be arrested.”
She added that the Gauteng 10111 Command Centre was at the public’s service 24 hours a day and that every resident must only call the 10111 emergency line when they are in danger (such as in a life-threatening situation); witness a crime, see something suspicious or someone possibly committing an offence.
The call operators and call dispatchers at the centre will ensure that every complaint is registered and attended to.
“We have also realised that there are people who call the emergency line several times a day reporting the same incident. It is a crime to abuse 10111. Use it responsibly.
“When you call the emergency number, try to be calm, speak clearly and slowly for the telephone operator to assist you faster, give the telephone operator your contact number, full address where the incident is happening and the type of incident/ and if possible provide the description of the nearest landmarks such as post office, shops or clinic, especially where there are no proper addresses. Our members will attend to all the complaints as soon as possible.”
When the police follow up on calls that are made from the same number many times, often parents inform them that the child was playing with the phone.
“Responsible citizen, we cannot let our children play with the phone by calling 10111 emergency lines. Everyone should call 10111 to be and feel safe. Let us not abuse it,” she concluded.
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