A Grahamstown resident told Grocott's Mail this week of her terror when she couldn't get hold of the police as robbers broke into her house.
A Grahamstown resident told Grocott's Mail this week of her terror when she couldn't get hold of the police as robbers broke into her house.
“I was broken into four times last year in Grahamstown. On one occasion, I tried to dial the emergency number 1011, undercover, while the break-in was occurring but could not get through,” said former Rhodes student and Grahamstown resident, Nicole Bentley.
Bentley and others in her position have since turned to Hi-Tec’s control room for emergency support, having lost faith in the police’s ability to respond promptly.
“The first time I tried 10111 it didn't work.
"After that I just called Hi-Tec for the break-ins we had. I called Hi-Tec first because we knew they would be there faster and would always answer the phone. Hi-tech would then call the police for us,” said Bentley.
Bentley said that on more than one occasion, the number failing to work had serious consequences.
Grocott’s Mail can confirm that the national emergency contact number 10111 is not fully functional in Grahamstown.
We placed several phone calls to the 10111 number which did not connect, or rang for over a minute before the call was answered.
Even when the call was answered the line was unclear and cut off prematurely.
“I wish I could hear you and explain but the volume and clarity of the call is a problem. Telkom came in yesterday but the line is still very on and off,” the operator said, during one of our attempts to call the number.
Captain Mali Govender explained that the 10111 number does not work because of serious technical issues.
“It’s been going on for years. If there is no reception at certain towers, then we cannot get the calls,” she explained.
As a result, the police have to rely on alternatives in order for residents to reach them for help.
“If anyone needs to get hold of us, they must call our landline number,” said Govender.
Many residents do not know that the emergency 10111 number is not fully functional, however, and have continued to use it.
Despite attempts by the police and Telkom to fix the lines, the lines are still faulty.
Grahamstown police are, however, committed to continuing to work with Telkom to restore the service.
Ayanda Kota of the Unemployed People’s Movement believes that this issue where citizens are forced to act where the state has failed to.
“If a service that is provided by the state is suspect, it means that you are forced to make a plan in order to get what you need”, said Kota.
He said that those who cannot access these free, emergency numbers are being prejudiced.
"It’s not right," he said.
Govender said Grahamstown residents can call the following numbers until the problem is solved: Please use the following number to report crime at Grahamstown:
046-6039152
046-6039147
046-6039145
Contact telephone numbers at Joza:
Switch Board: 040 602 2700
Station Commander: 046 602 2701
CSC:046 602 2710
Crime stop: 08600 10111
