KING WILLIAM’S TOWN – Humansdorp Cluster Commander, Brigadier John Lebok bid farewell to one of the top achievers at the K9 Unit, Warrant Officer Donovan Naidoo who is leaving Humansdorp and the Eastern Cape.  Warrant Officer Naidoo is joining the Soshanguve K9 Unit in Gauteng.

Warrant Officer Donovan Naidoo is no stranger to service excellence, as he was once honoured with the National Commissioner’s Special Award at the National Excellence Awards Ceremony that were held in Mpumalanga (2019). Naidoo received an award for his exceptional work that led to the arrest of suspects and the seizure of dried abalone valued over R 6 000 000 (six million rand),  while he was a sergeant attached to the Cape Town K9 in the Western Cape.  In 2019, Naidoo was promoted to a rank of Warrant Officer and joined the Humansdorp K9 in the Eastern Cape. 

From the time, W/O Naidoo started working in Humansdorp, he needed no introduction, as his exceptional work rate and ethics were talking for him.  Naidoo with his dog, Hilmer criss-crossing the province and participated in most provincial operations targeting crimes such as;  During his time in the Eastern Cape, he had some good arrests such as the following:

1. In Jeffreys Bay (April 2019), he arrested a man for contravening the Medicine and Related Substances Act. Scheduled 6 drugs (pills) valued around R115 00 were seized. 
2. In Mqanduli (May 2019), he arrested two men for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. He seized a total of 7 000 rounds of ammunition, two (02) shotguns and two (02) 9mm pistols. 
3. In Jeffreys Bay (July 2019), he nabbed a man for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.  A 9mm pistol and five (05) rounds of ammunition were seized.
4. In Centane (August 2019), he arrested a man for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. A shotgun with rounds valued around R 9 000 were seized.
5. In Mqanduli (September 2019), he arrested a man for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.  One (01) shotgun with ten (10) rounds of ammunition and also one (01) 9mm pistol with five (05 rounds of ammunition were also seized.
6. In Jeffreys Bay (September 2019), while he was off-duty he arrested a man for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He seized two (02) rifles (303 and 2.22) with a total of 95 rounds of ammunition.

All the above cases are not yet finalised. This year, Warrant Officer Naidoo and his dog, Hilmer were separated after his transfer to Soshanguve K9 in Gauteng was approved.  A ten-year-old Labrador breed, Hilmer that was trained in tracing of protected species such as abalone, rhino horns, crayfish and ivory is currently being relieved and is to retire after an excellent service in the South African Police Service.

Humansdorp Cluster Commander, Brigadier John Lebok was full of praise for the member, “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”, added Brig Lebok Source: South African Police Service