Bobby’s 911 committed to keeping you safe
Boksburg 911 connects residents with emergency services and community organisations.
When an emergency strikes, knowing who to call can make all the difference.
For thousands of Boksburg residents, Boksburg 911 has become a community lifeline, connecting people in need with emergency services, medical assistance, security, trauma counselling and other support.
Founded about 10 years ago by Boksburg South resident Bobby Marilli, affectionately known as ‘Uncle Bobby’, the initiative has grown from a simple idea into a network of about 12 WhatsApp groups with more than 5 000 members.
The groups have different functions, but all have one purpose – to get help to residents when they need it most.
Whether it is an accident, crime scene, missing-person case or even a motorist stranded with a flat tyre, residents can use the network to find assistance.
The groups bring together residents and organisations that can respond to a variety of situations, including medics, the fire department, ambulance services, the EMPD, chaplains, trauma counsellors and security companies.
Traumatic personal experience
For Marilli, the initiative is deeply personal.
In 2000, he and his family experienced a traumatic armed robbery at their home.
“We went through a very traumatic armed robbery at home. It nearly cost me my life, and I never wanted anyone else to go through what I went through. That was the encouragement to start the Boksburg 911 group,” said Marilli.
“We began approaching organisations and explaining the vision for a community-based emergency network.”
As word spread about the initiative, more organisations began working with him and, in some cases, approached him because of the work he was doing in Boksburg.
What started from a traumatic personal experience has since developed into a service driven by cooperation between residents and organisations working on the ground.
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Marilli said the support of local responders has been vital to keeping the initiative going.
“In all honesty, without these security companies, we wouldn’t survive,” he said.
Overcoming challenges
One of the operations that stands out for Marilli was the response to the gas tanker explosion in Plantation on Christmas Eve (December 24) morning in 2023.
Despite being sick in bed at the time, he received information about the incident and immediately began coordinating assistance through the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) group.
“Members were there assisting in all aspects, such as road closures, medical assistance and the search for missing people,” he said.
The initiative has not operated without challenges.
Marilli said the group has faced opposition and threats over the years but has continued to assist the community.
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“Organisations do try to shut us down, and we do receive threats, but no one has succeeded,” he said.
For residents wanting to be better connected during an emergency, Marilli encourages them to join the relevant Boksburg 911 WhatsApp group.
Members are required to provide their details by signing the necessary documents, but Marilli said this information remains confidential.
The details can also be useful in situations where a resident is facing a crisis and is unable to communicate or remember their personal information.
At its heart, Boksburg 911 is built on a simple idea: when something goes wrong, residents should not have to face it alone.
By bringing people and services together, the initiative gives residents another avenue to seek help, whether they are dealing with a serious emergency or simply need assistance getting safely back on the road.
Residents are encouraged to join the appropriate Boksburg 911 WhatsApp group and become part of the community network, so that help is only a message away when it matters most.
If you are interested in being a part of the group, you can click the link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IdI8b5pfba14vYx2tXJrM3?s=sh&p=a&ilr=1
