APART from a slight scratch above his eye and a lunge for a gulp of water, Empangeni’s top drug dog – Tjokkie was given a clean bill of health after being found near KwaMbonambi on Friday morning.
The black, long-haired Labrador Retriever went missing last Tuesday after his handler was involved in a head-on collision with a truck before Slovo Village on the N2.
Following an intensive three day search, it was sheer relief on the face of Sergeant A Mthembu when he was reunited with his partner behind Amangwe Village near the Maphelane turn at around 6am on Friday.
Tjokkie (3) was found by two dog handlers of Mvula Security – Gift Mchunu and Vusi Zikhali during morning patrols in the area.
After a routine check-up at a veterinarian in Durban, the canine cop reported back for duty at the Empangeni K9 headquarters on Friday.
‘She has been given a clean bill of health and we are just to monitor her behaviour.
‘Tjokkie was not starved so we suspect she could have eaten food from the nearby village or plantation during the three days,’ said Lt Col Koos Bothma.
The Empangeni K9 Unit also thanked members of the community for their support and assistance during round-the-clock search operations.
‘We had so many bbms, messages on facebook and calls to find out if we had found Tjokkie. It’s such a relief.
‘One of our members was gone and it was a terrible three days not knowing if she was injured or had survived,’ said Captain Chris de Wet.
Described as the ultimate survivor, this is the second time Tjokkie, aka ‘007’ has escaped death.
In February last year, Sergeant Mthembu and Tjokkie were involved in an accident en-route to a call out on Bullion Boulevard near BHP Billiton’s Hillside premises in Richards Bay.
Tjokkie and fellow patrol dog Jim went missing after escaping the scene in panic.
They were luckily found after a weekend-long search.
PHOTO: Ronelle Ramsamy
11 OCTOBER 1pm
EMPANGENI’s top drug dog, Tjokkie is in good spirits after being found at KwaMbonambi this morning (Friday) following an intensive three day search.
The black, long-haired Labrador Retriever went missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning after his handler was involved in a head-on collision with a truck near KwaMbonambi.
However, it was sheer relief on the face of partner Sergeant A Mthembu (pictured) when he was reunited with his partner behind Amangwe Village near the Maphelane turn at around 6am
Three-year-old Tjokkie was found by two dog handlers of Mvula Security – Gift Mchunu and Vusi Zikhali during morning patrols in the area.
Apart from a slight scratch above his eye and a lunge for a gulp of water, Tjokkie was back in his K9 vehicle and reported for duty at the Empangeni headquarters by 8am.
‘He was not starved so we suspect he could have eaten food from the nearby village or plantation during the three days,’ said Lt Col Koos Bothma.
‘It is such a relief that he was found and does not show any physical signs of injury. However, he has been taken to our veterinary surgeon in Durban for a full physical.’
The Empangeni K9 Unit also thanked members of the community for their support and assistance during round-the-clock search operations for the canine cop.
‘We had so many bbms, messages on facebook and calls to find out if we had found Tjokkie.’ Tjokkie was conducting routine patrols with his partner at around 2.30am just before Slovo Village on the left of the N2 towards KwaMbonambi when the accident occurred.
11 OCTOBER 9AM
Tjokkie the Empangeni Dog Unit K9 has been found.
A security company official found the animal at 6am this morning near Amangwe Village in the kwaMbonambi area.
A police spokesperson said the animal was well, but was being transported to a veterinary surgeon in Durban for a full physical.
The black, long-haired Labrador Retriever went missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning after his handler was involved in a head-on collision with a truck near KwaMbonambi.
Three-year-old Tjokkie was conducting routine patrols with his partner Sergeant A Mthembu at around 2.30am near Slovo Village on the left of the N2 towards KwaMbonambi when the accident occurred.
It is believed a shaken Tjokkie escaped from the K9 Unit vehicle into nearby plantations but it is not known whether she headed towards the coast or inland.
Sergeant Mthembu was meanwhile treated for minor injuries at Netcare The Bay Hospital and is recovering at home.
Members of the SAP, security companies and Farmwatch as well as volunteers havd been combing the KwaMbonambi plantations since Tuesday morning in the hope of finding Tjokkie.
This is not the first time the drug dog has stared death in the face.
She escaped serious injury last year when the vehicle she was in was involved in an accident en-route to a call-out on Bullion Boulevard near BHP Billiton’s Hillside smelter in Richards Bay.
Tjokkie and fellow patrol dog Jim went missing after fleeing the scene in panic.
They were found 48 hours after an intensive weekend-long search by members of the SAP, reservists, the SPCA, unit members and even members of the community.
Tjokkie joined the Empangeni K9 Unit in January 2012 and plays an integral role in locating hidden drugs in Zululand.
- Capt Chris de Wet with Tjokkie
(archive pic)
9 October 2013
POLICE are combing the KwaMbonambi plantations this morning in search of Empangeni’s top drug dog – Tjokkie.
It’s been just over 24 hours since the female black Labrador ran into nearby plantations after being involved in an accident just before Slovo Village on the left of the N2 towards KwaMbonambi.
Three-year-old Tjokkie was reportedly travelling with his handler Sergeant A Mthembu in a K9 Unit vehicle when their van collided with a truck in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Mthembu was treated for minor injuries at Netcare The Bay Hospital and is recovering at home. It is believed a shaken Tjokkie possibly escaped into the plantations but it is not known whether she headed towards the coast or inland.
Members of the SAP, security companies and Farmwatch as well as volunteers resumed the search this morning after finding no traces of the missing dog last night.
Members of the public alerted Business Against Crime Manager, Dave Whittaker of a sighting of a dog fitting Tjokkie’s description at East Central Arterial in Richards Bay yesterday afternoon.
‘We searched the area with volunteers between 4.30pm and 6.30pm yesterday but unfortunately did not find Tjokkie. She is gentle and friendly and can be approached. The search continues this morning. We hope she does not head towards the N2 where she will be in danger,’ said Whittaker.
Tjokkie joined the Empangeni K9 Unit in January 2012 and plays an integral role in locating hidden drugs in Zululand.
Anyone with information surrounding Tjokkie’s whereabouts can contact the SPCA on 035 7929129 or Dave Whittaker on 083 3954000.
8 OCTOBER 2013
Empangeni’s top drug dog missing
POLICE are searching for Empangeni’s top drug dog – Tjokkie, who went missing following an accident in the early hours of Tuesday morning near KwaMbonambi.
Tjokkie was reportedly travelling with his handler, Sgt Mthembu in a K9 Unit van when the vehicle collided with a truck before Slovo Village on the left of the N2 towards KwaMbonambi.
According to Business Against Crime Manager, Dave Whittaker, it is believed the black labrador possibly escaped into the plantations but it is not known whether he headed towards the coast or inland.
‘Tjokkie is gentle and friendly and can be approached. He has been part of the Empangeni K9 Unit for the past three years and is used to locate hidden drugs. Police are combing the area at the moment,’ said Whittaker.
His handler was reportedly rushed to Netcare The Bay Hospital and released after being treated for minor injuries.
Anyone with information surrounding Tjokkie’s whereabouts can contact Lt/Col Koos Bothma 082 4699166 on or Dave Whittaker on 083 3954000.
