Short answer. South Africa has no national preparedness booklet or kit list. The City of Cape Town's list is the most complete official one: supplies for at least three days, including five litres of water per person per day 1. Weather warnings come from the South African Weather Service in four colour levels 3, and Eskom publishes an annual emergency plan for residents around Koeberg Nuclear Power Station 2.
Who is responsible for civil protection in South Africa?
Disaster management is run by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), with provincial and municipal disaster management centres 5. In practice, the most detailed household advice is local: the City of Cape Town publishes Disaster Guidelines with a Family Disaster Preparedness Guidelines plan to fill in 1, and Eskom publishes the 2026 Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Emergency Plan Calendar in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa for people living near the plant 2. Its first instruction: "Please do not discard this document" 2.
What does each South Africa page cover?
| Page | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Emergency supplies | Why three days, five litres of water per person per day, and the Western Cape grab-and-go kit 1 |
| Official kit list | The City of Cape Town list, line by line 1 |
| Public shelters | No shelter network; mass care centres and halls instead 12 |
| Alerts | SAWS colour levels, channels, Koeberg sirens, the status of cell broadcast 23 |
| Iodine | Koeberg zones (5 km and 16 km) and how potassium iodate tablets are issued 2 |
| Build a shelter | No shelter-specific law or standard; ordinary building plan approval applies |
| Emergency contacts | 10111, 10177, 112 and Cape Town numbers 4 |
What are the key numbers to remember?
- Three days: the minimum supply the City of Cape Town asks every household to hold 1.
- Five litres of water per person per day 1.
- 10111 for the police, 10177 for an ambulance, 112 from any cellphone 4.
- 5 km and 16 km: the Precautionary Action Zone and Urgent Protective Action Zone around Koeberg 2.
What should I do first?
Start with water and the three-day supply, then add a radio with spare batteries, since radio is one of the main channels for warnings 13. If you live within 16 km of Koeberg, keep the Eskom calendar: it lists your mass care centres and explains the sirens 2. Our guides on the 72-hour kit, water per person and a family emergency plan help put this in order.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Africa have a national emergency kit list?
No. The NDMC publishes no national kit list; the City of Cape Town's Disaster Guidelines are the most complete official list 1.
When was this information verified?
Every source on these pages was consulted on 20 October 2026.
Is there a nuclear risk in South Africa?
South Africa's only nuclear power station is Koeberg, near Cape Town. Eskom's annual calendar sets out the emergency plan for the surrounding 16 km 2.
What number do I call from a cellphone?
112 works from any cellphone on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom 4.
Sources
- City of Cape Town — Disaster guidelines — https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/safety-in-the-home/natural-disasters-and-your-home/disaster-guidelines (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Eskom — 2026 Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Emergency Plan Calendar — https://www.eskom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/141-25-Koeberg-Eskom-Calendar-2026.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- National Disaster Management Centre — Early Warning Systems (EWS) — https://www.ndmc.gov.za/brochures/Electronic-Brochure.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Western Cape Government — Know who you can call in an emergency — https://westerncape.gov.za/know-who-you-can-call-emergency (accessed 2026-10-20)
- National Disaster Management Centre — Advocacy and Public Awareness — https://www.ndmc.gov.za/Home/PublicAwareness (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for South Africa, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- City of Cape Town · Disaster guidelines checked 2026-10-20
- Eskom · 2026 Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Emergency Plan Calendar checked 2026-10-20
- National Disaster Management Centre · Early Warning Systems (EWS) checked 2026-10-20
- Western Cape Government · Know who you can call in an emergency checked 2026-10-20
- National Disaster Management Centre · Advocacy and Public Awareness checked 2026-10-20