Umhlali K9 unit kennels in desperate need of upgrade

The dire state of Umhlali’s SAPS K9 unit has come under the spotlight again with the Ballito Community Police Forum (CPF) highlighting the urgent need for the kennels to be refurbished.

The upgrading of the dilapidated kennels was first announced in December 2014 after they were condemned. However, the project, driven by concerned Dolphin Coast residents failed to get off the ground.

The extensive work earmarked by the residents included the demolishing of the old kennels and building of new brick and mortar kennels with epoxy painted floors, which are easy to keep clean and provide a secure and sanitary environment for the working dogs.

Plans were drawn up for the kennel design which included a new concrete slab to be laid down with special drainage to a septic tank and finally a solid perimeter fence would be put up around the kennels.

Damp has been seeping through the slab which the kennels are currently built on and needs urgent replacement.

The conditions dictated that the dogs be housed at Durban Central Police Station overnight with their handlers fetching them everyday from Durban.

However, the kennels were patched up and the dogs were transported back to their unit. However the condition of the kennels has once again reached a tipping point.

Acting commander of the SAPS Umhlali K9 unit, Captain Ryan Charlton, who recently took over the role after 25 years in the police service, said his unit served the cluster of Ilembe, with 10 police stations relying on the services of the K9 unit.

The unit has in the past won awards for the best K9 unit in KZN, and is invaluable to crime fighting in the region, however their ability is being hampered by the condition of their kennels.

There are nine specialised dogs working in the K9 unit, trained in different disciplines, from finding drugs and firearms, patrol work, sniffing out explosives, to conducting search and rescue operations.

Vice chairperson of Ward 6 CPF, Candice Henderson added: “Ward 6 CPF recognizes SAPS Umhlali constraints, including the K9 unit. They often assist us with special night operations and do more than the community often see.

“We assisted with the installation of night lights at the police station and want to highlight the need for the fundraising initiative to be revived in order to upgrade the dog kennels, which are in a poor state.

“Our support of the SAPS Umhlali will be an ongoing commitment and partnership to help each other with our common objectives.”

With the massive growth of the North Coast the CPF stressed the importance for the K9 unit to be based locally.

“We need our own unit based in the area to support our police,” said outgoing CPF chairperson Gary Frances.

“There have been many hiccups since announcements were first made a number of years ago on the refurbishment of the Umhlali K9 unit but hopefully businesses and residents in the area will step forward to spearhead the project and the dog kennels will soon get the much needed face-lift they deserve,” Frances added.

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