New Stellenbosch K9 Unit deployed to combat drugs and gang activity - EWN

The Western Cape government and Stellenbosch Municipality have launched a municipal K9 Unit to strengthen efforts against gang activity and drug-related crime in high-risk communities.   

The Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety contributed R400,000 in the previous financial year, while the provincial government allocated a further R1 million this year to establish the unit.   

The next phase will include a K9 training facility and municipal breeding programme that could supply trained dogs to neighbouring municipalities. 

The province said the dogs are already helping to detect narcotics.   

Premier Alan Winde said the unit came at a critical time, with areas such as Kayamandi and Cloetesville experiencing an increase in gang-related and organised crime.   

"Municipality, thank you very much for partnering with us, we've got K-9 Units now and they're already doing their jobs. They've already sniffed out drugs, ammunition and this is just added extra to a safety plan across the province and specifically here in Stellenbosch."   

MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais said the K9 Unit is a valuable asset to law enforcement in the fight against gang activity and drug-related crime.   

"K9 capability is an essential part of modern crime fighting, particularly when dealing with narcotics and organized criminal networks.” 

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