The South African Police Service Special Task Force has been ranked among the top ten SWAT teams in the world.
This prestigious ranking was achieved at an annual five-day event in Dubai that sees 55 law enforcement teams from around the world compete in brutal challenges.
The SWAT team is a squad of elite police officers specially trained in weapons and tactics – including high-risk missions like hostage situations, extreme violence, and other dangerous missions that require special skills like bomb disposal, diving, tracking, and accurate shooting require.
National Police spokeswoman Brig Athlenda Mathe said the challenge will assess the tactical acumen, mental focus and physical stamina of task force members, with the competition aiming to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experience and strengthen partnerships, to create safe communities.
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Mathi said the five days of intense and rigorous challenges took place in the United Arab Emirates and ended with Team Takis of South Africa finishing ninth with 183 points. She said this is a huge improvement from last year when the unit finished 13th with a score of 82.
The Chief of the Specialized Operations component and Commander-in-Chief of the team, Major General Nonhlanhla Zulu, who was part of the competing team in Dubai, expressed pride in the team and its achievement.
The Special Task Force is a highly specialized unit. Members are selected through a painstaking selection process and graduates respond only to high risk events which include hostage situations, search and rescue missions, in addition to providing specialized operational support to other SAPS entities.
