PTA K-9 Search and Rescue Praised for Turkey Quake Rescue

A Pretoria police K-9 search and rescue handler helped rescue an 80-year-old woman from a collapsed building in Turkey, on Monday.

Warrant Officer Len Willemse and his team have been lauded by the police commissioner for their work in Turkey.

Turkey and Syria suffered an earthquake that inflicted large-scale loss of life and several injuries.

The Middle East countries recorded deaths of over 41 000 people due to an earthquake on February 6, 2023.

“For the past week, the team has led numerous search operations for survivors and to recover the bodies of deceased victims.”

The magnitude of the earthquake was registered at 7.8.

Police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola hailed his K-9 search and rescue (SAR) team for its recovery effort saying it was the epitome of pockets of excellence that exist in the police.

“The team has been hard at work, searching and locating victims where excavators and rescuers would take over to recover victims.

The team consists of:
– Leader, Brigadier Vimla Moodley, Eastern Cape head of police emergency services (PES),
– Warrant Officer Tinalia Gouws, a K-9 search and rescue handler in the Lydenberg K-9 unit in Mpumalanga
– Warrant Officer Martin Bann (Benoni K-9 unit)
– Warrant Officer Keagan Naidoo (Johannesburg K-9)
– Warrant Officer Len Willemse, (Pretoria K-9)
– Sergeant Jennifer Seleka, (Mahikeng K-9) in North West.

Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “The SAPS takes this opportunity to commend the members who have represented the organization and South Africa with great pride.”

Mathe said the team would return to South Africa on February 18.