Wes Rand K9 ( BRAK TAK)

Wes Rand K9 is situated in the Johannesburg West and West Rand Cluster and consist of the Roodepoort and Carletonville K9 units.

The K9 Unit consist of the following working dogs:

Patrols dogs, Explosives dogs, Narcotic dogs, Endangered Species dogs, Biological fluid dog, Tracker dogs, Fire detection dogs and Search and rescue dogs.

“BRAVERY IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR, BUT ACTION IN THE FACE OF FEAR”

Police members know that they are likely to face death – maybe once, maybe a few times during their careers. This is why it is not a job for the faint hearted (IT IS NOT A JOB BUT A CALLING)

K9 Search and Rescue dogs: one of the most used dogs in the Police, and trained in various disciplines as they are used in the following:

• Assisting divers in the search for drowned victims
• Tracking of missing people
• Tracking of diseased people (shallow graves etc.….)
• Accident scenes
• Assisting in crime investigation
• Disaster scenes
• Recovery of bodies from water and difficult to reach terrain.

The K9 Search and rescue handlers are well trained, and part of their training includes high angle rope and swift water rescue as many of the scenes has to do with fast flowing water or mountain related search and rescue operations.

The handlers and dogs are also in many circumstances required to search for victims which was involved in a trench or structural collapses due to illegal mining activities.
The search and rescue teams also work hand in hand with different entities like SARZA, MSAR and GEMS were a disaster like floods, explosions etc.… occurred and a JOC needs to be established and medical backup is need for rescuers and victims.

In December 2022 19 x illegal miners was trapped under ground after heavy rainfalls in the Krugersdorp area were they unfortunately drowned underground as they could not get out of the open mine shaft as the water and mud was entering the entrance at a rapid speed, the bodies were recovered with the assistance of some of the miners. The area was searched with the Search and rescue dog (Duke) and another 2x victims was found inside the shaft where they were trapped under some mud and rocks due to the partial collapse of the roof.

The area going down to the into the opening of the shaft was assessed as the victims was still inside the shaft and a decision was made to postpone the recovery till the next morning as heavy rain and possible mudslides would endanger the lives of the rescuers. The next morning the bodies of the remaining two victims was recovered by means of high angle rescue techniques by various K9 Search and rescue units.

SAPS K9 members put there live in danger every day as they are on the front line of dangerous situations to safe guard and serve the community.

K9 Search and Rescue members is also involved in school safety programs as well as ” Coffee with a Cop”,
(Coffee with a cop is the concept that seeks to bridge a gap between Police, private sector and community.)

• Another example of the performance of the Narcotic K9 members was when Wes Rand K9 was involved in July 2022 to form part of a disruptive operation of cross border syndicates smuggling narcotics between Mozambique and South Africa. The vehicle was identified and stopped by the members and Buddy the narcotic detection dog was used to search the vehicle where he reacted positive to the back of the vehicle, the vehicle was searched by the members and various hidden compartments was found:
  • 54 Kg Crystal Meth and 21 Kg Heroin was recovered, estimate value of 12 million rand.
  • The suspect a South African male was arrested under the Contravention of the Drug trafficking Act for
    possession and dealing in drugs.