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Emergency services, including ambulance services, are run by provincial health departments. The South African Health Services of the South African National Defence Force also plays a key role in emergencies and disasters. Call 10111, the Nationwide Emergency Response number from anywhere in South Africa.  A call centre operator will answer the incoming call, take all necessary particulars and assign the complaint to a Flying Squad patrol vehicle, or the local police station, to attend the incident.  The City of Johannesburg Emergency Connect number is 011 37 55 911, which offers 24-hour emergency services relating to all-life threatening situations, including ambulances, fire engines and metro police.  Call 999 for an ambulance, or call 082-911 for emergency medical assistance. For car breakdowns, call the Automobile Association at 0800/01-0101 toll free.

Motor vehicle accident and trauma rates are high in South Africa, and state emergency services are overstretched. In recent years, private "rapid response" emergency services have sprung up to fill the much-needed gap. The biggest is Netcare911, which has the largest fleet of emergency response vehicles - cars, ambulances, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft - and paramedics in the country. Families can join Netcare911 at R240 per year; some medical schemes offer Netcare cover. But this medical rescue service, which is sponsored by cellular network provider Vodacom, will respond to any emergency regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

• Netcare911's emergency phone number: 082 911
• Emergency phone number for the ambulance service - 10177
• Emergency phone number for the police - 10111
• For more details on the SA Police Service, go to the SAPS web site
• For more information on Netcare's services, go to the Netcare911 web site
• Another medical rescue company offering similar services around the country and beyond is Medicair

Useful Address

• http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/31/32/

The sites below were under construction when this guide was compiled:

• http://www.saps.org.za/
• http://www.netcare911.co.za/

CSC - Community Service Centre Information services

Community AIDS Information and Support Centre	011 - 725-6710/21
Metro hotline	011 - 403-2625/3226
Metro Communications	011 - 407-6111

Disaster management

Aviation Rescue Services	011 - 928-6454
Metro Disaster Management and Telecommunications Services	011 - 375-5911

Firemen

In case of fire, call tel. 011/624-2800. For northern suburbs ambulance or fire emergencies, call tel. 011/286-6000.  

Ambulance & Fire

Johannesburg Central	375-5911
Boksburg	894-7333
Bedfordview	458-3000
Midrand	375-5911
Randburg	375-5911
Roodepoort	375-5911
Sandton	375-5911
Ambulance and fire headquarters	472-1599 (non-emergency, office hours only)
St John's Ambulance	403-4227/2346
Medical Rescue International	403-7080

Police

Emergencies -- Dial tel. 10111 for flying-squad police,

Other important government telephone numbers:

Report a crime
086001-0111

Report unfair conduct by a government official
080011-2040

Report corruption in or out of government
080060-0933

Report unfair conduct by police
(012) 320-0431

HIV/AIDS support
080001-2322

Joburg Anti-Corruption Unit
0800 002587 (toll free)