After all the horrific incidences occurring on what has been dubbed the “Hell Run” (the N2 in Cape Town between Somerset West and the Airport) we released a list of emergency numbers to keep handy.
However, after this one man’s experience you may want to ensure you know just one of the numbers, 112!
IOL reports that Keith-Ashen from Hermanus dialled 10177, which is the emergency ambulance number, when he hit a rock placed on the infamous “Hell Run” and ruptured his tyre. This is a common ploy that sees criminals place rocks and concrete slabs in the middle of the road forcing motorists to stop. The motorists are then robbed and sometimes assaulted.
Ashen was on the road at 4am to catch a flight to Johannesburg when hi hit the rock. Fearing for his safety, he did not stop and instead carried on driving. He dialled the emergency number but the response he received shocked him. “"I was doing the Hell Run when the well-known ambush tactic became a stark reality to me. I managed to get away with only a busted left front wheel. "I dialled the number and then explained to the man on the line that I needed help. Twice he asked me, -˜What do you want me to do?’, before he put the phone down on me," Ashen said.
Darren Francis, the Provincial Health Department spokesman, said it was protocol that call-takers gather details from a caller and connect them to the appropriate agency. He said the department was investigating.
"We view incidents of this nature in a very serious light, and all these cases are investigated by the communication centre management. Where found guilty, the call-takers are disciplined according to the department’s disciplinary code," said Francis.
Ashen said he drove for another 10 minutes and dialled the number again before a woman transferred his call to the city’s Metro Police.
This incident brings the issue of having a single emergency call number in to focus. Currently there is no number in South Africa that is similar to the "911" number in the United States.
In the Cape province, emergency numbers include the city’s 107 public emergency number, 10111 for the police’s visible policing division, Crime Stop at 08600 10111 and 10177 for an ambulance.
According to Community Safety MEC Dan Plato, there are talks among departments about consolidating the numbers.
It has been suggested that Western Cape residents should call 112 for any emergency. The number works like 911. When people dial it, their calls will get transferred to the appropriate service.
Here are tips for driving on the N2.
Source: IOL
