The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has raised serious concerns over the apparent neglect of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) K9 Unit. According to him, this disregard significantly weakens the SAPS’s ability to combat various forms of crime affecting the country.
“On Friday, 31 January 2025, my colleagues and I conducted an unannounced visit to the Cape Town K9 Unit, and our findings should alarm all South Africans. The unit is on the brink of collapse, reflecting broader systemic failures in the country. SAPS management appears oblivious to the globally recognised role and effectiveness of K9 units in crime-fighting,” Cameron stated.
During the visit, the committee observed a leadership crisis, a lack of appreciation for the unit’s critical role, and what Cameron described as dereliction of duty. He found it unacceptable that the Cape Town K9 Unit has only two operational dogs. “In a city plagued by drug-related crime and gangsterism, with an international airport and harbour that could serve as drug entry points, it is unacceptable to have such inadequate resources to combat crime,” he added.
While the Cape Town situation is alarming, Mr Cameron stressed that the national picture is even worse, raising serious questions about the SAPS management’s commitment to crime-fighting. He highlighted that in Cape Town alone, 50% of dog handlers lack dogs, training at Roodeplaat is ineffective and outdated, and the SAPS remains reliant on a prolonged dog training strategy that fails to address immediate crime-fighting needs.
Cameron underscored the strategic importance of the K9 Unit, citing its critical capabilities in tracking criminals, detecting explosives, uncovering narcotics, and participating in rescue missions. He argued that the SAPS management’s failure to acknowledge or prioritise this capability suggests a deeper unwillingness to implement effective crime-fighting strategies, particularly in curbing the increasing drug crisis.
He called for the National Commissioner to conduct an urgent skills audit of the unit, starting at management level, given the evident dereliction of duty. He also urged a review of the current strategy that prevents the purchase of already trained dogs, which could help bridge the capability gap.
“It is imperative that SAPS implements every available strategy to fight crime. The neglect of the K9 Unit is an indictment of SAPS’s ability and commitment to this cause,” Cameron stated.
He further noted that the failure of SAPS management to effectively utilise the K9 Unit directly impacts the morale of its dedicated personnel. He stressed the urgent need for a clear and innovative intervention to restore the unit’s effectiveness. “National and provincial managers responsible for this unit must be held accountable for their mismanagement, which has rendered the unit dysfunctional,” he emphasised.
The committee will summon SAPS management to account for their plans to revitalise the K9 Unit as a critical component of crime-fighting efforts.