CAPE TOWN. – Cape Town emergency calls reached 3 384 over the long weekend, with the City of Cape Town’s Public Emergency Communication Centre logging 148 road accidents, 174 physical assaults and 93 domestic violence incidents.
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What drove Cape Town emergency calls over the long weekend
Of the 148 road accidents recorded by the centre, 33 involved pedestrians. Rain over the weekend contributed to the volume, according to the City.
‘The call rates, while of concern, do not come as a surprise. It bears the hallmarks of many other long weekends, where we see an increase in interpersonal incidents, many linked to alcohol abuse,’ Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, said in a press release to The Daily Pod.
Smith said too many drivers do not adjust their behaviour to match road or weather conditions, and urged residents to use the Safety and Security add on to the City App to log by law offences so that call takers can focus on life and death matters.
Arrests and fines across City enforcement services
City services arrested 373 suspects and issued 64 201 fines during weekly patrols.
Metro Police officers made 103 arrests and issued 5 845 notices, recovering seven stolen or hijacked vehicles, a firearm and various quantities of drugs. Law Enforcement officers made 221 arrests and issued 10 978 notices.
Traffic officers recorded 49 arrests, 43 of them for driving under the influence of alcohol, two for reckless or negligent driving and four for other offences. They issued 47 381 fines, executed 1 948 warrants of arrest and impounded 188 public transport vehicles.
Officers also handled point duty at the Stormers against the All Blacks fixture at DHL Stadium and the Totalsports Women’s Race, with no major incidents reported.
How to report an emergency in Cape Town
Residents can report emergencies or suspicious and criminal activity by calling the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. By law and traffic complaints can be logged through the Safety and Security add on to the City App.
* Press release.
