The number of incidents recorded for domestic violence by Cape Town’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) has sharply increased over the past four years, showing a more than 100% spike, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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Over the past 12 months, for the period between July and June, the PECC recorded 214 437 incidents for assistance, including medical incidents, noise complaints, criminal acts, motor vehicle accidents and interpersonal violence.
While prank calls, medical incidents and noise complaints declined, domestic violence incidents and cases of assault and motor vehicle accidents increased.
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In particular, the number of calls for domestic violence incidents increased by more than 100% over the past four financial years.
The centre recorded 2 025 domestic violence incidents during the 2020/21 period. By 2023/24, this number increased to 4 378.
‘It is anyone’s guess whether these statistics represent a massive increase in the rate of domestic violence, or if more persons affected by it are speaking up, and reaching out,’ says Cape Town’s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
‘Either way, it is clear that domestic violence and interpersonal violence in general, remains one of the biggest challenges we’re faced with. Our emergency call takers do their level best to assess a situation, by trying to get as much information from the caller as possible.’
Smith reminds the public that the questions during an emergency call, which may seem trivial in a time of crisis of desperation, serve a purpose in understanding the threat level, the condition of a patient or determining the exact location.
‘Given the growth in domestic violence calls to our emergency centre, I will propose engagements with NGOs and the enforcement services, to determine what more, if anything, call takers can do, as that first line of contact, to help ensure positive outcomes for the person on the other end of the line,’ he adds.
The PECC was established in August 2000 and remains the only municipal emergency call centre in South Africa.
Its services are available 24/7, seven days a week, and the centre accommodates all three official languages spoken in the Western Cape.
Apart from dispatching City enforcement and emergency services, the centre can also distribute incidents to EMS and SAPS.
Call-takers are trained in dealing with direct calls for help using the Emergency Policing Incident Command (EPIC) system as well as basic first-aid and fire safety management.
What to know when calling for help:
- Once you have dialled the number and are through to the operator, give them your contact number first so they can call you back if you lose connection.
- Always give your full name.
- Describe your location as accurately as you can. Remember, the operator might not necessarily know your neighbourhood like you do.
- Give details of your emergency.
- Let the operator guide the conversation — they have been trained to ask the most pertinent questions.
- Your call will be transferred, together with all the information you provided, to the relevant police, fire or ambulance service.
- The service provider will then determine what type of response is needed and dispatch the relevant resources (personnel, vehicles and equipment).
To contact the PECC, dial 021 480 7700 (cellphone) or 107 (landline).
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