All hands on deck as Northern Cape SAPS ramps up water policing for festive season

THE NORTHERN Cape SAPS diving units are gearing up for the festive season, with skippers and divers preparing to patrol the province’s coastline, dams and rivers to ensure a safe and secure holiday period.

From November 20 to 26, divers and skippers from the Northern Cape, joined by their counterparts from the Free State, participated in an intensive operational exercise dubbed Navalis Exercitatio (naval exercise) in Port Nolloth, in the Namakwa District.

The exercises included vessel patrols, vehicle coastal patrols, theory and diving shore entries, aimed at preparing the teams mentally and operationally for any incidents that may occur in and on the water.

The SAPS diving units will focus on preventing and combating incidents of poaching, illegal crossings by undocumented immigrants, and ensuring adherence to water safety regulations and by-laws during public events.

The provincial head for Police Emergency Services, Brigadier Amicus Alberts, emphasised the importance of patrolling the country’s borders, including coastal borders, to ensure stability and safety.

The SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services provide specialised diving-related response services, including search and rescue operations, the recovery of bodies, and assistance to detectives with investigations.