Pretoria – The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) K-9 Unit in Türkiye took part in the rescue of an 80-year-old woman found alive nine days after the devastating earthquake.
More than 41 000 people have been confirmed dead in Türkiye and Syria as a result of the earthquake.
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The SAPS K9 unit, which is preparing to return to South Africa, participated in several missions.
Commenting on the rescue, National Commissioner of the SAPS General Fannie Masemola said: “Among the successes achieved by the K-9 team is the recovery of an 80-year-old elderly woman who was found alive in a collapsed building”.
The team consisting of five K-9 dogs and their handlers, and a team leader departed for Türkiye on 9 February 2023.
For the past week, the team has led numerous search operations for survivors and to recover the bodies of deceased victims.
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.
General Masemola said: “The SAPS takes this opportunity to commend the following members who have represented the organisation and South Africa with great pride”.
The K9 team comprises:
- 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.
General Masemola said the team was the epitome of pockets of excellence that exist in the organisation.
The team has been hard at work, searching and locating victims where excavators and rescuers would take over recover victims,” said General Masemola
“We are happy to hear that our role yielded significant results and we were able to provide closure to the people of Turkiye.
“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.
The K-9 team is expected back home in South Africa on Saturday, 18 February 2023.
