AWARD-winning Humansdorp K9 Warrant Officer Donovan Naidoo is set to exchange his Eastern Cape police badge for that of the Soshanguve K9 Unit in Gauteng.
Since joining the Humansdorp K9 Unit in 2019, Naidoo secured various good arrests.
This includes the arrest of a man in Jeffreys Bay for the possession of schedule six drugs to the value of R115 000, as well as the arrest of a man in Centane for the possession of illicit drugs with a street value of over R9 000.
Various unlicensed firearms and ammunition across the Eastern Cape were seized under his watchful eye: including over 7 100 rounds of ammunition, three shotguns, two 9mm pistols and two rifles.
The cases are yet to be finalised.
Trained in the tracing of protected species such as abalone, rhino horns, crayfish and ivory, Naidoo’s four-legged colleague, Hilmer, a 10-year-old Labrador, is to retire after an excellent service in the police.
Naidoo and his previous dog, Raka, were honoured with the National Commissioner’s Special Award for 2019 at the National Excellence Awards Ceremony held in Mpumalanga. This is a special award won by individuals or groups of dedicated members who brave all kinds of danger in a quest to create a safe and secure environment for all.
The award came after the successful arrest of suspects and the seizure of dried abalone to the value of R6 000 million in July 2018 while he was a sergeant at the K9 Unit in Cape Town.
Humansdorp Cluster Commander, Brigadier John Lebok, said, “Warrant Officer Naidoo spent just over a year in this cluster, but his work attracted the attention of the provincial senior management, as he was always partaking in provincial special operations.
“The province, and more especially our cluster, has lost a member with special qualities, but we understand the circumstances that led to his transfer to the Gauteng Province.
“We also say bravo to Hilmer for an excellent service, and it is time for our four-legged member to go and rest.”
