Sodwana: The Gauteng Water Police and Diving Services (WPDS) embarked on their annual refresher camp at Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, from 11 to 16 May 2025, with 20 members participating in this mandatory training. Led by Lieutenant Colonels Xolani Msimango and Roland Booysen of the Gauteng Rapid Response Services, the team aimed to uphold operational standards and commercial diving regulations through a series of daily dives and refresher classes.
According to South African Police Service, the WPDS is a voluntary secondary function comprising 34 members, including divers, supervisors, and vessel handlers. These members carry out their water policing and diving duties in addition to their regular police responsibilities. Their tasks involve recovering drowned victims and exhibits, conducting rescues, crime prevention, and policing large events near water bodies such as dams and rivers.
Collaboration with other units like the SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, SAPS Air Wing, Drone Unit, and Gauteng Emergency Services is crucial for the WPDS. Such collaborations were instrumental in the recent recovery operation in the Jukskei River, where missing SAPS members and their vehicle were located. Searches are conducted using various methods, including air, canoe, boat, and foot patrols, with sniffer dogs aiding in detecting submerged bodies.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the WPDS achieved significant milestones with 285 callouts, spending 2077 hours on scenes, conducting 245 individual practices, accumulating over 23000 minutes of total bottom time, and recovering 177 bodies. They also completed 16 rescues, recovered 1008 crime-related exhibits, participated in 138 crime prevention operations, and policed 27 events.
The training camp in Sodwana Bay featured an intense schedule, with two dives daily from Monday to Wednesday starting at 06:00, followed by class presentations on diving techniques. Safety and protocol briefings were conducted before each dive, as per Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) standards. The dives averaged 40 minutes at depths of 9 to 12 meters with strong currents, and class presentations covered dive tables, essential for regulating nitrogen build-up.
The team also engaged in an off-road excursion to 9 Mile, a remote coastal part of Sodwana Bay, to enhance off-road skills and demonstrate vehicle capabilities. This experience is vital for team building and confidence in navigating remote rural scenes frequently encountered in Gauteng.
Concluding the camp, the team showcased their compassionate side by donating pet food to Mabaso Animal Shelter, a local charity caring for abandoned animals. This gesture highlighted their commitment to community service beyond their professional duties.