USAR SA-01

USAR SA-01 was inaugurated in 2014 as the the Emergency Response leg of the National Disaster Management Center. The establishment of the team was mandated by the Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002), The National Urban Search & Rescue Framework (Notice 120 0f 2014) and the UN General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 2002. In February 2017, USAR SA-01 was Externally Classified as a Medium USAR Team by INSARAG. The National Disaster Management Center acts as the National Focal Point for all team deployments. USAR SA-01 is manned by emergency service personnel from municipalities across the Gauteng Province, including City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, City of Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality, City of Johannesburg Metro Municipality, West Rand District Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality and Gauteng Provincial Emergency Services. The minimum certifications required to become a USAR SA-01 team member include, but are not limited to: Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Trench Rescue, Machine Rescue, Vehicle Rescue, Wilderness Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Advanced Emergency Responder Certification and UN B-Safe certification. Traditionally Urban Search and Rescue teams, only responded to disasters or large-scale incidents in developed environments, but with the international incorporation of a flexible response methodology into the INSARAG framework. USAR SA-01 will now respond in Urban, Rural and Aquatic environments, as dictated by the disaster, incident or focal point. Currently USAR SA-01 is in the process of organizing its INSARAG External Reclassification exercise. The event is planned for August 2024.