The Sasolburg K9 police unit has welcomed a new hero to its ranks. The search and rescue dog Bravo 8548, better known as Syla, a Belgian Malinois, officially reported for duty on Monday. The introduction of the search and rescue dog Syla brings new hope to the unit.
She completed three months of intensive training as a search and rescue dog.
With her keen sense of smell and unwavering dedication, Syla is set to make a profound impact in and around the Free State province.
Destiny beckoned
The two-year-old Syla was initially tested as a patrol dog.
It was not a good fit for her as she did not meet the patrol dog requirements for gunfire stability.
Therefore, she was moved to be a search and rescue dog. In search and rescue efforts, Syla found her true calling.
Syla and her handler, Warrant Officer Hollie Holtzhausen, a seasoned dog handler from the Sasolburg K9 Unit, excelled in search and rescue training. They demonstrated remarkable skills in tracking and detection.
Passing with flying colours, she now stands as the only search and rescue dog at the Sasolburg K9 Unit.
She is also one of just three in the Free State province.
Syla, the only search and rescue dog, follows in the paw prints of her predecessor, Bennie. Bennie is an 11-year-old Belgian Shepherd now enjoying retirement.
Taking over from Bennie
Diagnosed with spondylosis, Bennie retired early last year and has been living with Holtzhausen in Parys.
For years, Bennie and Holtzhausen worked side by side, facing challenging missions in flood situations, forensic searches, and rescue operations.
Their partnership led them to assist in over 400 drowning cases, 288 murder cases, 380 missing person investigations, and 76 accident scenes. The new search and rescue dog Syla has big shoes to fill.
Among Bennie’s most notable cases was the 2021 search for 35-year-old Yolandi Botes.
Her remains were found near the Vaal resort in Villiers after she was last seen in an Uber from OR Tambo International Airport.
In 2022, he played a crucial role in the aftermath of the Jagersfontein mine dam collapse. He sifted through thick sludge for signs of life.
His skills were also instrumental in the 2017 case of three-year-old Liam Nortjé. The remains were found near a railway track in Harrismith.
The expertise of Bennie and Holtzhausen has also been used beyond South African borders. They assisted in search and rescue operations in Lesotho.
“You work together with one goal in mind — to save a life or to ultimately provide families with closure when a body is found,” said Holtzhausen about the bond between handler and dog. The same bond is now forming with the search and rescue dog Syla.
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