If you are in immediate danger, contact SAPS on 10111 or the emergency number 112 from any cellphone first. The resources below are for both emergencies and ongoing support — for yourself or someone you're concerned about.
A 24/7 national helpline operated by the Department of Social Development. Trained social workers can dispatch help, including police or a mobile safety unit, and provide counselling and referrals. Free from any phone.
For reporting crimes, including anonymously, if you're not in immediate danger but want to report an incident or provide information.
24-hour counselling helpline covering a wide range of crises, including domestic violence and emotional distress.
Free, 24-hour support for children and anyone concerned about a child's safety.
If you're supporting someone else
You don't need to have the right words. Believing someone, not pressuring them to act on a timeline that isn't theirs, and helping them find one of the resources above is genuinely useful support. Safety planning is personal — what's right for one person's circumstances may not be safe for another's, which is exactly why the trained counsellors on these lines exist: to help build a plan specific to the actual situation.
A note on apps and technology
Location-sharing and silent-alert tools like findME can be one part of a broader safety plan — for example, sharing your location with a trusted contact during a specific situation you're worried about. They are not a substitute for the support lines above, and in an active emergency, contacting SAPS or the GBV Command Centre directly should always come first.