MORE than 10 years after the death of Durban Metro Police K9 officer Cherise Anne Cox, her brother and Kloof resident Shane Cox is continuing a mission inspired by her life; helping the voiceless, supporting rescued animals and standing alongside emergency-service personnel and their families facing hardship.

Cherise was just 40 when she died on June 7, 2013, after a devastating battle that began when she was shot while responding to a hijacking in progress.

According to her brother, Cherise spent almost a decade fighting to survive the consequences of the shooting.

Also read: Shane supports SPCA in memory of his sister

“She endured more than 20 operations and spent years in and out of hospital, battling severe medical complications, including the loss of her small intestine, renal and organ failure, tuberculosis of the bowel, PTSD, anxiety and other serious health problems.

“She was in and out of the hospital for 10 years and sadly passed away after she had 24 operations,” said Shane.

In August 2026, Shane turned his sister’s extraordinary story into a published eBook titled Guns for Hire.

Published on Amazon, the book is described as a fictionalised and dramatic retelling of Cherise’s life and her decade-long struggle following the 2003 shooting.

The narrative explores her injuries, numerous surgeries, psychological trauma and the challenges she faced while attempting to rebuild her life. It also examines allegations surrounding corrupt colleagues, missing firearms and the treatment she received from the authorities and municipality.

Fighting for the voiceless

The book also highlights Shane’s unwavering support for his sister throughout her battle. “My sister and I were very close, growing up it was just our mother, Cherise and I.”

He credited Advocate Carlo Viljoen with providing legal expertise and guidance during the preparation of the book, and acknowledged Pierre Venter-Maher and Edward John Thompson for encouraging him to tell Cherise’s story.

Shane has devoted much of his free time to supporting the Kloof and Highway SPCA where he serves as chairperson and as an investment trust member. He also works as a Kloof street patroller, conducting weekend graveyard patrols under the call sign K34 while most of the community is asleep.

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His commitment to animal welfare has included supporting kennels, contributing towards food and accommodation, assisting with veterinary and clinic costs, and helping staff members and volunteers who dedicate their lives to caring for abandoned, injured and neglected animals.

Speaking to the Highway Mail, Shane said animals are the “voiceless” and deserve compassion, care and protection.

Over the past 11 years, Shane has also completed 15 days and more than 360 hours in Dog Box challenges, raising funds and awareness for the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

Through his Back-a-Buddy campaign, Shane is appealing for support to continue this work and provide financial and humanitarian assistance where it is most urgently needed.

Supporters can contact Shane at shanebackabuddy@gmail.com or contribute through his Back-a-Buddy campaign.

Review by Pinetown resident Andreas Mathios

Some stories should not be allowed to disappear.

I have just finished reading Guns for Hire by Shane Cox, and I believe this is far more than a book about one tragic incident. It raises serious questions about accountability, firearm control, municipal leadership and the possible failures of a system that was supposed to protect one of its own.

The story of Cherise Cox is deeply disturbing. What happened to her, and what followed, should leave every reader asking whether justice was truly served.

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For me, the most important question is whether this case should now be reopened and independently reinvestigated. The book raises allegations about missing firearms, failures in firearm controls and decisions made by those in positions of authority. Those allegations deserve proper scrutiny, not silence. The book itself records claims that an audit involving approximately 150 missing Metro Police firearms was blocked from public release.

The timing of this book is also significant. The ongoing Madlanga Commission has once again placed corruption, political interference and criminal infiltration of law enforcement under the national spotlight. The Commission has already made referrals for further investigation and possible criminal proceedings where evidence warrants it.

That makes the questions raised by Guns for Hire even more difficult to ignore.

If there were failures in the investigation, firearm management or municipal oversight surrounding Cherise Cox’s case, then those responsible should be called to account. Former decision-makers and officials who had knowledge of the circumstances should be required to explain what they knew, what they did, and what they failed to do.

Cherise Cox deserved better. Her family deserved better. And South Africans deserve to know the truth.

I believe Guns for Hire deserves to be read, not simply as the story of one woman, but as a reminder of what can happen when institutions fail the very people who serve them.

This is a story that should not be closed until every unanswered question has been properly answered.

A powerful, disturbing and important read.

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