Beloved Blackie, stabbed
MELVILLE – Community comes together to help Jonathan Plaatjies, the much-loved homeless man who roams Melville with his two dogs, Blackie and Brownie after one of them was stabbed while protecting him.
You might remember the story of Jonathan Plaatjies and his two best companions, Blackie and Brownie in A Valentine’s Treat, Week ending 24 February.
Theirs is a story that captured the hearts of many, even far beyond the Melville community.
A week before Valentine’s Day this year, Plaatjies’ dogs were taken away from him on the pretence that they would be fed and given water.
However, it was not until a couple of hours had passed that Plaatjies realised his most loved companions were gone.
Like any tight-knit family, the community then banded together to help find his dogs.
On 14 February, Plaatjies was reunited with Blackie and Brownie and life went back to normal for the family of three.
Just recently this beloved family was rocked with another blow. On the I Love Melville Facebook page a photo was posted of Blackie with an injured eye.
It is alleged that Blackie, while trying to protect his owner from robbers, was stabbed in the eye with an unknown object.
Linden resident, Larushka Mare, read the post and it was enough to get her out of her warm home and onto the Melville streets in search of Blackie so that he could get much needed medical attention.
“Everyone knows him [Plaatjies] but no one knew where he was or where he sleeps,” said Mare.
After hours of searching for him she finally found him in Westbury and after reassuring him she was there to help, he got into the car with Blackie.
Mare shared that on the evening of 29 March, while she drove him and Blackie to Bryanston Veterinary Hospital, Plaatjies explained he was collecting his recycling goods when men came to rob him.
Blackie was admitted to the vet and Mare said that he would spend two more days there.
It was found that Blackie’s stab wound was not serious and he was recovering well after treatment for his injury.
At the time of going to press, Northcliff Melville Times had not been able to communicate with Plaatjies but updates will be published as they become available.
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