When hope was slipping away, two strangers living under a Johannesburg bridge risked everything to rescue a lost little dog… and reminded us all that true kindness still exists.
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 April 2025) – When a loved one goes missing, your world stops. And when that loved one has four paws, a scruffy little beard and a heart full of love, the panic is overwhelming.
That’s exactly what happened to Stoffel van Wyk, an internationally awarded hairstylist from Johannesburg, when his beloved Schnauzer, Ella, vanished shortly after moving into a new home. Gates jammed, doors unlatched… and in a blink, Ella was gone. What followed was a desperate race against time: posters plastered across the city, calls to vets and animal shelters, endless scrolling through lost-and-found groups. Some responses gave hope; others, sadly, were cruel attempts to scam a family already broken with worry.
But then, when it mattered most, kindness showed up, in the most unexpected place, from the most unexpected heroes. And the story that unfolded next is reminding thousands that humanity’s heart still beats strong.
After posting Ella’s disappearance across every platform they could find, Stoffel’s family received a message that would change everything.
A kind stranger named Thando reached out, “Hi, my name is Thando. I saw Ella this afternoon around 13h00 under the M1 bridge near the Melrose BP (Corlett Drive off-ramp). The homeless individuals living there had her tied to the bridge strut. I’m only seeing your poster now as I’m going through my gallery deleting pictures. I’m very sure it’s your pet because, as my girlfriend was driving, she asked, ‘how do those guys manage to feed their dog?’ Thanks to traffic, I was able to have a long, hard look and I wondered what kind of dog it was; it has a nicer moustache than most men.”
While Thando’s message was landing, another call came through. This time it was from Rastaman (affectionately known as Vickey) who lives under the bridge.
He told them he had seen a tiny black dog on the highway, running dangerously close to speeding cars. Without hesitation, he dashed into the traffic to rescue her. Together with his friend, Nhlanhla, they fed her, gave her water and even washed her down with Sunlight liquid to get the grime and rain off her little body.
Nhlanhla then spotted one of the posters at Norwood Spar, memorised the contact number by scribbling it onto his hand and they borrowed a phone to make the call that would reunite Ella with her devastated family.
They made no demands for reward, no hint of wanting anything in return, they were simply happy that Ella could be reunited with her family.
Of course, Stoffel’s family insisted on rewarding them properly, and, thanks to the support of good friends and the incredible Oaklands Veterinary Clinic, they also committed to providing Rastaman and Nhlanhla with food supplies for the months ahead.
But the story doesn’t end there either. It turns out these quiet heroes have been saving animals around the Corlett Drive area for quite some time, stepping up where no one else did, proving that kindness thrives in the most unexpected corners of society.
As one social media user beautifully summed up, “Rastaman and Nhlanhla are proof that there are some incredible people out there. Absolutely inspiring.”
Another added, “Awesome to hear… Ella was a lucky doggie… Does restore one’s faith… There are still lots of kind people out there.”
Others simply said, “What an incredible story. We have amazing people in South Africa.”
Ella’s name, fittingly, means “come to me” in Greek. And thanks to the love, courage, and pure humanity of two strangers under a bridge, she did exactly that… she found her way back home.
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