End of an Era: Infamous Emergency Numbers in South Africa Phased Out
Celokuhle Simelane 
It has come to an end for the numbers you call when you need emergency help in this country, of which are 10111, 10177 and 107.
These numbers are called when you need police assistance, ambulance assistance and other assistance. The Cabinet has approved that this be released to the public to comment on the closing of the numbers.
The aim is to have one number for the people of this country to use if they have problems. In a recent forum after the Cabinet meeting, the Minister in the office of the president, Ms. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the public will be given the opportunity to comment on the closure of these numbers.
She said the aim of the government is to have one number, which will be simple for people to remember. The new number to be used is: 112.
"It's hard to remember a lot of numbers when you want police or medical help. That is why there must be one short number that will be easy to remember," said Ms. Ntshavheni. There have been complaints about the police helpline number 10111.
In Parliament, members of the Police Committee once complained that this number was not answered quickly. Sometimes it is said that this number is simply closed in the space that you are looking for help. Another complaint was the lack of staff at the call center, which meant that calls could not be answered on time. When Mr. Bheki Cele was the minister of police, he revealed that from the financial year 2018/2019, about 14.9 million out of 56.99 million, unanswered calls to 10111.
He also pointed out that this center should have about 3,344 employees but it has about 1,315. The cut in the budget of different departments in the country has resulted in other vacancies not being filled in different departments. According to the police, this number is used to report emergency cases.
It works 24 hours a day, and calls are free if you use a landline. If you use a mobile phone it costs a normal fee. All calls are recorded. The public is always urged not to play on this number by reporting cases that do not exist. Because it is a criminal offense to do so.
