K9 unit in George gets new recruit
A police dog trained to detect explosives, firearms and ammunition has been donated to the Pacaltsdorp SAPS K9 unit amid a shortage.
A newly trained police dog has joined the K9 unit in Pacaltsdorp thanks to a donation from AfriForum, reports George Herald.
The dog, named Bruno, is a three-year-old Belgian Malinois and was officially handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Davids, the unit’s commander, on Wednesday.
Bruno completed his training last Friday and is equipped to detect explosives, firearms and ammunition.
The donation follows recent reports highlighting a shortage of police dogs, with the police calling on the public for assistance.
AfriForum’s chief spokesperson for community safety, Jacques Broodryk, said the donation comes amid growing concern about the lack of operational police dogs.
Although the police procured 95 dogs during the 2023/2024 financial year and 23 dogs so far in the 2024/2025 financial year, the replacement rate is not keeping pace with the number of dogs being retired.
According to acting minister of police Firoz Cachalia, the shortage is due to several factors, including injuries and ageing dogs with serious medical conditions. The interruption of the police’s breeding programme, as well as delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, have further contributed to the backlog.
Broodryk said the shortage has a direct impact on crime-fighting efforts, particularly in narcotics detection and search-and-rescue operations, which are crucial in areas affected by ongoing gang violence.
AfriForum emphasised that effective policing requires sufficient resources and that civil society can play a role in supporting law enforcement where capacity constraints exist.
“Practical cooperation between communities and the police is essential to improve safety on the ground. By donating this K9, AfriForum aims to contribute meaningfully to enhancing the operational effectiveness of the police in the Western Cape,” Broodryk said.
The organisation has indicated that this will not be a once-off initiative, with plans to donate more trained police dogs in future. AfriForum is also considering the establishment of a dedicated fund to support the training and handover of additional K9 units to police across the country.
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Read original story on www.georgeherald.com
