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About the 107 Emergency Centre |
What is 107?
107 is a single emergency telephone number for use by all people living in and visiting Cape Town. By using this number you can ask for help when life or property is endangered and you will be put in contact with the nearest relevant emergency service provider, such as the ambulance, fire, police or traffic service.
How does the system work?
A member of the public can pick up any Telkom phone, including payphones, and make a toll-free call to 107. The call will be answered by the City's emergency communication centre. The operator will immediately be able to see where the person is calling from, what the person's telephone number is, and in the case of private phones, who the subscriber is. The operator will also know from which services' delivery area the call originates.
By asking a few pertinent pre-determined questions, the operator will be able to determine what emergency service provider is required, and will transfer the call, including all the information he/she has just collected, to the relevant police, fire or ambulance service provider's telephone and computer terminals. The service provider will then determine what type of response is needed, and dispatch the relevant resources such as personnel, vehicles and equipment to where they're needed.
While previously members of the public might have searched through lists of emergency numbers in the telephone directory and wasted precious time phoning around searching for the correct emergency service, they now have one number that will connect them to the right service within seconds.
Why should I use 107?
Emergency and other essential services have call dispatch centres, such as the South African Police Services (SAPS), METRO Emergency Medical Services, Ambulance Services, City Police Service and Fire Services. Unfortunately, because of the many emergency numbers that can be called, the onus is on the public to find the relevant number to dial. Obviously this presents problems and the result is that many calls are misdirected. The SAPS, for example, get a large proportion of calls that are not at all related to crime emergencies. These misdirected calls decrease the efficiency of agencies in dispatching resources to emergencies, commits extra human resources to answering calls, and causes delays in responding to emergencies.
In an environment where emergency services resources are already stretched to the limit, but where a commitment exists to render the best possible service, a single number for all emergency calls is the logical solution. The advantages of such a number is that calls cannot be made to the wrong agency. A single, short emergency number that is easy to memorise and use and will connect the public with any emergency service can only improve the service delivery.
How do I use 107?
- Make sure you have information and details regarding the emergency ready, such as the nature of the emergency, whether anyone is injured, the exact location (including nearby landmarks), any potential hazards, etc.
- Dial 107 from any Telkom phone
- The operator will be able to immediately establish your details, such as your address and phone number
- Relay your information - and try to stay calm
- Do not hang up until you are told to do so, even if you dialed 107 by mistake
Will 107 replace other emergency numbers?
All other emergency numbers are still applicable, however, 107 is a single number that will connect you to all emergency services
 Can I call 107 from my cell phone?
Calls from a cellular (wireless/mobile) phone can be made directly to the 107 centre on 021 480 7700 at national rates. Dialing the number 107 from a cell phone will not work.
What happens if I misuse the 107 number?
A hoax or prank call to 107 is a very serious crime and you could get a fine or even go to jail for up to three years. Remember, the 107 system can automatically determine where you are telephoning from.
What about educating the public?
A public education and awareness drive relating to the single emergency number is in progress. Click here to read more...
For more information, contact John Ellis on 021 487 2045
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