SAPS commends K9 Search and Rescue Team deployed to Turkiye for role in finding victims
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has hailed the SAPS K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) team deployed to Turkiye for their role in search and recovery efforts.
The team consisting of five K-9 dogs and their handlers and a team leader departed for Turkiye on 9 February 2023, where the team has led numerous search operations for survivors and to recover the bodies of deceased victims. Among the successes achieved by the team is the recovery of an 80-year-old elderly woman who was found alive in a collapsed building.
The SAPS K-9 search and rescue dogs are trained and used to search for missing persons and recover dead bodies. They also detect human scent, remains and are able to find victims of floods and collapsed buildings.
“The South African Police Service takes this opportunity to commend the following members who have represented the organisation and South Africa with great pride:
Team leader, Brigadier Vimla Moodley, who is the current serving Provincial Head in the Eastern Cape for Police Emergency Services (PES)
Warrant Officer Tinalia Gouws is a K-9 search and rescue handler attached to the Lydenberg K-9 unit in Mpumalanga
Warrant Officer Martin Bann is a K-9 search and rescue handler attached to the Benoni K-9 unit in Gauteng
Warrant Officer Keagan Naidoo is a K-9 search and rescue handler attached to the Johannesburg K-9 unit in Gauteng
Warrant Officer Len Willemse is a K-9 search and rescue handler attached to the Pretoria K-9 unit in Gauteng
Sergeant Jennifer Seleka is a K-9 search and rescue handler attached to the Mahikeng K-9 search and rescue unit in North West
The team arrived back in South Africa on Saturday, 18 February 2023 where they continue to serve and protect the people of South Africa.
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