In an emergency in South Africa: call 10111 for the police, 10177 for a state ambulance, or 112 from any mobile phone. If you have medical aid, call a private ambulance: ER24 (084 124) or Netcare 911 (082 911). For consular help, the Chinese Embassy’s 24-hour consular protection line is 010 492 5583 (+27 10 492 5583 from abroad).
Key emergency numbers (as of October 2026)
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police (SAPS) | 10111 | Robbery, break-in, hijacking or any crime in progress |
| Mobile emergency number | 112 | Works on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom; routes you to the right service |
| State ambulance | 10177 | Provincial emergency medical services |
| ER24 private ambulance | 084 124 | Private service, usually billed to medical aid |
| Netcare 911 private ambulance | 082 911 | As above |
| Johannesburg Emergency Connect | 011 375 5911 | Fire, ambulance, metro police; life-threatening emergencies only |
| Cape Town emergency centre | 107 (landline) / 021 480 7700 (mobile) | Fire, rescue, ambulance, metro police and more |
| Crime Stop (anonymous tip-offs) | 08600 10111 | For information, not emergencies |
| NSRI sea rescue | 087 094 9774 | Emergencies at sea or on the beach |
Fire numbers differ by municipality. Outside Johannesburg and Cape Town, call 112 or 10111 to be routed, and save your local fire service number. Calls to 10111 sometimes go unanswered, so Cape Town officials suggest saving the city emergency number as a backup.
Chinese Embassy and consulates: consular protection lines
| Mission | Consular protection and assistance |
|---|---|
| Chinese Embassy, Pretoria (24 hours) | +27 10 492 5583 |
| Consulate-General in Johannesburg | +27 10 498 6234 |
| Consulate-General in Cape Town | +27 21 674 7668 |
| Consulate-General in Durban | +27 76 174 2938 |
| MFA Global Consular Protection and Service Hotline | +86 10 12308 or +86 10 65612308 |
According to the Embassy website, outside working hours (12:00–13:30 and 17:30–08:00 SA time, plus weekends and holidays) the 24-hour line is transferred to 12308. Transfers can fail, so dial +86 10 12308 directly. For passport and document questions call +27 12 431 6537 (weekdays 08:00–12:00) instead of the emergency line. Addresses and consular districts are on our embassy and consulates page.
What to say when you call
- Give the address first: street number, street, estate or complex name and suburb. Then say what happened and how many people are hurt.
- Save your home and shop addresses in English in your phone notes so you can read them out under stress.
- If your English is limited, start with “I need police” or “I need an ambulance”, then the address, and ask an English-speaking friend or neighbour to help.
- If you have medical aid, save your membership number in your phone; private ambulances will ask for it. See our medical aid guide.
Opening a police case and getting a case (CAS) number
- Go to a police station: you can report at the Community Service Centre of any station; the docket is transferred to the station where the crime happened.
- Bring: your passport (or a copy), phone number, address, the time and place, what happened, a description of the suspects and a list of stolen items (phone IMEI, bank cards and so on).
- Give a statement: an officer interviews you and takes a sworn statement. It can be in any language and you may ask for an interpreter, but a Chinese interpreter may not be available quickly, so bring a friend who speaks English.
- Check and sign: read the statement before signing; you can add or remove details.
- Get the case number: once the case is registered on the SAPS Crime Administration System (CAS), you receive a CAS number, normally by SMS. Insurers, banks and the Embassy will ask for it.
- Follow up: the docket goes to an investigating officer. You are entitled to know who that is and to get progress updates.
Passport stolen or lost: open a case first, then contact the Embassy or consulate for a travel document or new passport. Phone stolen: ask your network to block and replace the SIM quickly; see our SIM card guide.
FAQ
What is the difference between 10111 and 112?
10111 goes straight to the police. 112 is the mobile emergency number and routes you to police, ambulance or fire as needed. Government proposed in 2024 to move to 112 only, but as of October 2026, 10111 and 10177 are still in use.
Do I pay for a private ambulance?
Private ambulances and hospitals usually require medical aid or a payment guarantee; without cover you may pay yourself. The state ambulance (10177) is free or low-cost, but waiting times can be longer.
What if I cannot follow English at the police station?
Ask for an interpreter, or bring a friend, a community association representative or a local Chinese police-liaison volunteer. See our directory of Chinese associations.
How can the Embassy help a Chinese citizen in trouble?
It can help you contact police, hospitals and family in China and issue replacement documents. It cannot investigate crimes or pay costs for you. For prevention tips see our safety guide and the Safety section.
Sources
- 中国驻南非大使馆：驻南非使馆提醒中国公民加强安全防范（2026-10-10，含使领馆领事保护电话）
- 中国驻南非大使馆：驻南非使馆提醒旅南侨胞严防绑架犯罪（2026-09-06）
- Western Cape Government: Know who you can call in an emergency
- Western Cape Government: Reporting crime
- Vuk’uzenzele (GCIS): The police need your help – how to report a crime
- City of Johannesburg: Emergency Connect 011 375 5911
- EWN: 10111, 112 or 107? What number should you call in an emergency? (26 Aug 2026)
- Stellenbosch University: Important numbers to keep at hand (ER24, Netcare 911)
- BusinessTech: Government proposes cutting emergency hotlines to 112 (Nov 2024)