Western Cape police K-9 unit crippled by dog shortage

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has expressed concern at the shortage of South African Police Service (SAPS) dogs in the province.

A recent oversight visit to the Western Cape SAPS K-9 Unit by Members of Parliament uncovered a massive shortage of police dogs in the province. In a province where illicit drugs are at the centre of ongoing gang wars, the oversight visit revealed that Cape Town only has 2 narcotic dogs.

According to SAPS management in the province, dogs were eagerly donated in the past, but that practice has diminished in recent years and procuring dogs remains a challenge.

The Provincial Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety has on the other hand invested extensively in establishing and supporting K-9 Units in various municipalities in recent years to serve as force multipliers.

Minister Marais urge the SAPS and Western Cape municipalities that have launched K-9 units to work closer together to share resources and intelligence. “We can only beat crime through collaboration,” she stressed.

Media Enquiries
Kurt Nefdt, Acting MLO to Minister Anroux Marais
Cell: 084 285 1975
Email: Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za