SAPS commends K9 search and rescue team deployed to Turkey

Police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has hailed the SAPS’s K9 Search and Rescue team deployed in Turkey for their role in search-and-recovery efforts.

The team, consisting of five K9 dogs, their handlers and a team leader, departed for Turkey on February 9.

Warrant Officer Martin Bann, a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Benoni K9 Unit, is one of the members.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, for the past week the team has led numerous search operations for survivors and to recover the bodies of deceased victims.

“The 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.

“Among the successes achieved by the team is the recovery of an 80-year-old woman who was found alive in a collapsed building.”

The SAPS commends the following members who have represented the organisation and South Africa with pride;
• Team leader Brigadier Vimla Moodley who is the current serving provincial head in the Eastern Cape for Police Emergency Services.
• Warrant Officer Tinalia Gouws is a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Lydenberg K9 Unit in Mpumalanga.
• Warrant Officer Martin Bann is a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Benoni K9 Unit in Gauteng.
• Warrant Officer Keagan Naidoo is a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Johannesburg K9 Unit in Gauteng.
• Warrant Officer Len Willemse is a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Pretoria K9 Unit in Gauteng.
• Sergeant Jennifer Seleka is a K9 search and rescue handler attached to the Mahikeng K9 search and rescue unit in North West.

Masemola said the team are the epitome of excellence that exist in the service.

“The team has been hard at work, searching and locating victims where excavators and rescuers would take over recover victims. We are happy to hear that our role yielded significant results and that we were able to provide closure to the people of Turkey.

“On behalf of the SAPS, I would like to pay gratitude to the team who have displayed commitment and dedication to the cause of serving”, he said.
The team are set to arrive back in South Africa on February 18 where they will continue to serve and protect the people of South Africa.

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