Emergency numbers
Police, ambulance and the cellphone emergency number. Save them in your phone today.
Offices change fees and rules without much warning. Check the official page linked below before you go.
Save these in your phone now, not when you need them.
| Service | Number | |---|---| | Police (SAPS) | 10111 | | Ambulance | 10177 | | Emergency from any cellphone | 112 |
Police: 10111
SAPS runs 10111 as a 24-hour call centre for police emergencies. Calls from a landline are free. Calls from a cellphone are charged at normal rates. Use it for emergencies only.
Ambulance: 10177
10177 is the public ambulance number listed by the Western Cape government. Private ambulance services have their own numbers. If you have medical aid, save your provider's emergency number too.
112 from a cellphone
The Western Cape government lists 112 as the emergency number from cellphones on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom.
When you call
Say where you are first: street, suburb and a landmark. Then say what happened, and give your name and number. Keep your phone free until help arrives, in case they call back.
Sources
- SAPS: 10111 call centre (checked 8 October 2026)
- Western Cape Government: Know who you can call in an emergency (checked 8 October 2026)
Checked against these sources by the ZA Survival Guide editors.
Something wrong or out of date?
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