In Case of an Emergency

WHAT DOES THE ETHEKWINI FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DO?
Saves lives, property and helps communities by:

• Extinguishing fires.
• Rescuing people and animals from danger.
• Preventing fires and associated dangerous conditions.
• Assisting in preventing further loss after emergencies

WHAT TO DO WHEN A FIRE STARTS. 

• Get out of the structure on fire.
• Call the fire brigade (031 361 0000).
• Do not go back into the structure.
• Wait for the arrival of the fire brigade and direct them to the fire.
• Attempt to extinguish the fire if you can do safely – DONT put yourself at risk.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS
Speak slowly and clearly and tell the operator:

• What is burning.
• Your address: town/suburb/street/house number/cross road and well known features such as schools, churches, shopping centres, police stations.
• Whether anyone has been burnt or injured

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BURNT?

• If your clothes fire: Stop running, drop to the ground, and roll on the ground.
• How to treat a burn injury: Apply cold water to the entire burnt area and if possible put the burnt area under water.
• Get medical help

WHY DO FIRES START?

• People usually start fires – mostly by accident!
• Keep heat sources (heaters, candles, stoves, cooking fires, matches) away from combustible materials (bedding, clothes, curtains, cushions, carpets, paraffin, gas).
• Overloading electrical circuits or appliances.
• Faulty electrical circuits or appliances.
• Food left on the stove unattended.
• Improper use of flammable liquids, gas.
• Candles and paraffin stoves being knocked over.

Background

The eThekwini Municipality established Safer Cities project in 2000 in collaboration with the United Nations Habitat.

This concept was adopted after the International Conference for Crime Prevention Partnership to Build Community Safety which was held in 1998. It was attended by the Mayors from National and International arena.

The aim of the Safer Cities is to ensure that every citizen within the eThekwini Municipality is safe, and shares common understanding on community safety issues. Other stakeholders include all council departments, South African Police Service, NGOs, Community Safety Structures, Business Forum, National and Provincial Government Departments.

Programmes

The role of Safer Cities is to plan and implement community safety initiatives through an inclusive, multidisciplinary, preventative approach.

Safer Cities has the following programmes: 

• Social Crime Prevention Awareness Campaigns, Training and Dialogues
• Anti-Substance Abuse Programmes
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Programmes
• Street Committees
• Gender Based Violence Interventions
• School Safety
• Community Safety Forum
• Safety Audit
• Homelessness (skills development & social services)

Click here to view the CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY

URBAN SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION

Strategic Objectives, Outcomes and Outputs

EFFECTIVE POLICING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY (STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE) AS PER ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY
Outcome

Provide coordinated service delivery on community safety

Outputs

• Contribute to an improved policing service within eThekwini Municipality Area
• Co-ordinate the enforcement and management of street beggars
• Active participation in the national and provincial community safety program
• Ensure the alignment of Metro Police Plan with the SAPS Area Plan and have joint community safety activities.
• Co-coordinating stakeholder involvement in the effective management of the criminal justice system

TARGETED SOCIAL CRIME PREVENTION (STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE) AS PER ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY

Outcome

Empowerment of citizens in community safety

Outputs

• Raise awareness on substance abuse
• Facilitate the effective management of street children
• Support local efforts to create safer school environments
• Facilitate gender based community safety initiatives
• Develop opportunities for youth
• Raise awareness of family values, morals and human rights
• Facilitate the implementation of targeted social crime prevention
• Facilitate better management and enforcement of car guards
• Establish on-going dialogues broad range of role players to generate projects to promote safety

BETTER DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SPACES (STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE) AS PER ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY

OUTCOME

Creation of a safer environment

Outputs

• Develop a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Policy
• Facilitate the implementation of CPTED policies
• Raise awareness in the application of CPTED information to all relevant department and developers regarding the existence of CPTED
• Facilitate the intervention of CPTED to improve safety along transport routes
• Facilitate Crime Mapping Exercises

Research and Crime Analysis

(Strategic Objective)

As per eThekwini Municipality Safety & Crime Prevention Strategy

OUTCOME

Improvement of Community Safety facilitation and research management
Outputs

• Improve the quality of crime information and analysis
• Conduct community safety audits
• Sharing of information between law enforcement agencies and community safety structures
• Management of database
• Mapping of victim support services

Community Involvement In Safety

(Strategic Objective)

As per eThekwini Municipality Safety & Crime Prevention Strategy

OUTCOME

Community Partnerships on safety (initiatives)

Outputs

• Conduct educational programs regarding community safety
• Sustain and support ward safety committees
• Promote the willingness of citizens to participate in community safety
• Share information about safety and how to improve it
• Coordinating local community for  initiating community safety projects
• Effective utilization of recreational activities to promote community safety