Police’s 10111 emergency line is out of order

IT’S OFFICIAL – the Police’s 10111 number in Windhoek has been out of order for an indefinite period.

This confession by the Namibian Police came yesterday – days after former Windhoek mayor Vivienne Graig was brutally attacked in her home and afterwards tried in vain to reach the emergency number.Khomas Regional Police Crime Investigation Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Silvanus Nghishidimbwa yesterday said he launched an internal investigation following reports by The Namibian.Although Nghishidimbwa could not say how long the number had not been working, he admitted that there is a problem which he said is on Telecom’s side.’I am really very sorry for those public members who had to go through that situation (not getting any response).’Graig said she tried ‘for hours’ to no avail after she and her family were attacked in their Klein Windhoek house during the early hours of Friday. The Namibian also tried for 15 minutes on Monday during which the number just rang.Echoing Nghishidimbwa’s earlier statement, Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu, yesterday said: ‘We would like to admit that, yes indeed, the public members might have been calling on the Police toll-free number (10111) to report emergencies. However, the 10111 Police toll-free number for Windhoek has a technical fault, which has led to that it could be heard by the caller that it’s ringing, whilst in fact, it was not being received at the Police call centre.’Amulungu said the problem has been reported to Telecom ‘and it is receiving the necessary attention’.In the meantime, members of the public in the capital can call 22 83 83 or 23 07 65.

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