Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
A Tzaneen businessman has offered a R1 000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killers of a police dog and set off a mini-controversy in this Northern Province town.
Adolf, a six-year-old Alsatian, was stabbed to death two weeks ago after its police handlers released it to trace three alleged thieves. One suspect was arrested last week while the other two are still on the run.
Adolf had established a reputation as a “super dog” for his aggression and dedication. He was one of the most experienced sniffer and patrol dogs in the province, sent in every time there was a bomb scare.
One of the few VIP dogs in the province, he was loved in the community, police say, and so popular that he attracted a huge following when he appeared at police demonstrations.
But the offer of a reward has irritated some Tzaneen residents, who called in to a local community radio station to complain.
Maria Molefe says the reward is “wrong, and will send wrong messages. The police fail to make the same commitment when people, especially the poor, are killed. You don’t see these offers coming when people are killed or raped in the townships. Why is that?”
The dog unit says the money for the reward comes from a resident of Tzaneen who does not want to be identified. “The person who offered the money believes it is not right for criminals to kill police dogs. He believes the fact that the person killed a police dog shows that he is prepared to do anything to evade the law,” says dog unit representative Pieter Vermaak, adding that Adolf served the entire community.
Vermaak says Adolf and his police handler had done “outstanding” work in the past few years. For example, the dog was behind the arrest of a hardened criminal who had been targeting mourners in Tzaneen graveyards.
Adolf was buried last week at the dog unit offices and police officers will soon erect a “remembrance” tombstone on his grave. A book to document his history in the police force is being written.