1.8m calls to police emergency line 10111 abandoned in a year - EWN

Nearly 1.8 million of approximately nine million calls made to South Africa's 10111 police emergency line were abandoned in the 2025/26 financial year.

The figures were revealed in a parliamentary response from acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.

Speaking to 702's John Perlman, DA MP and chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Policing, Ian Cameron, said the problems went beyond just staff shortages.

"The minister is 100% correct when he says that there is a significant human resource shortage. We understand that. But I think technologically, 10111 is really lagging quite far behind."

He said the technology used by the emergency service was 'decades behind'.

"A very simple example: if you call 10-triple-one right now, they've got no way of seeing where you are calling from."

Cameron said something as basic as identifying a caller's location could mean the difference between life and death.