The Sweet Service Award goes to the City of Cape Town, for its humane action toward a homeless person and his dog, during the Corona Virus Lockdown, received from Councillor Nicola Jowell:

RASTA & HIS DOG

Many of you will know of Rasta who lives on Tramways Road. Rasta is 67 old and has lived on the streets for 55 years. His dog (Sharni) has been his companion for many years and like any pet owner there is a deep bond between Rasta and Sharni.
Today when we were on Tramways Road we were there to offer transportation for Rasta to the bus to go to the emergency shelter. Everyone realised that this was a tricky situation as Rasta would not easily want to be separated from Sharni.
Cllr Dave Bryant and Marc Truss made arrangements for Sharni to go to the very kind and generous people at the @Fritz Dog Hotel. Although Rasta was extremely worried about this he understood that it was a necessity. Transport was arranged for Sharni to go and Rasta accompanied us to the bus pick-up point.
Unfortunately when Sharni got to @ Fritz Dog Hotel she bolted and ran away. She would not come to anyone who came near her. The information as circulated via the CIDs and community contacts.
We had to break the hard news to Rasta who was understandably upset about this. He was taken to the area to assist with looking but he was adamant that Sharni would find her way home to Sea Point so he wanted to go and wait for her there.
The search continued and the GP CID spotted Sharni on Kloof Road but she ran away. They kept an eye on her whilst Rasta was fetched from Sea Point. There was an immensely happy reunion between the two!
Our plan has been for Rasta to accompany us to @ Fritz tomorrow to settle her in and ensure that she does not run way.
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