Response officer faces rinkhals, rushed to hospital

A local armed response officer was spat in the eyes by a rinkhals cobra at a business premises in Golden Drive on Sunday (January 26) afternoon.

According to Anne Powell, of Super Cops, the premises is one of their guarding sites and they received a panic activation after employees noticed the snake in the parking area.

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“It was around 5.30pm when officer Jacques Fourie arrived,” she explained.

“The snake had gone partially under a car and he tried in vain to get it out with a broom.

“It retaliated and he was spat in the eyes with venom.

“Despite his injury and being in serious pain, Jacques managed to kill the snake by using the broom to hold it down and he then trampled it to death.

“Our security guard on site called for a senior manager and paramedics to assist and Jacques was rushed to hospital, where he was treated in the emergency room and then kept overnight for observation.”

Powell said he was due back at the hospital yesterday (Wednesday) for a check-up.

The City Times previously reported that according to the Ekurhuleni metro, mid-August to late May is snake season.

Spokesperson Themba Gadebe said a number of snakes which are harmless to humans, such as the brown house snake, Aurora house snake, olive house snake and red-lipped snake, are likely to be found in gardens searching for food.

“If you spot a snake in your living spaces, try not to panic and keep the snake within your vision at a distance of about five metres.

“Do not try to kill or handle the snake,” Gadebe said.

He added that the Ekurhuleni region is prone to snakes due to the Blesbokspruit river system, Bullfrog Pan and other Highveld grassland areas and open spaces with good ecosystems which provide food and shelter for snakes.

“While some snakes are harmless, snakes such as the puff adder and rinkhals are extremely dangerous, with the heavily-built puff adder known to be very defensive, particularly if stepped on as they don’t slither to safety like most other snakes do, slow to move but quick to sense danger and strike.

“The rinkhals (or ring-necked cobra) is a fast-moving multi-feeder, which is good at faking death when it’s scared by people,” Gadebe said.

“It is easily identified by a dark body with two white stripes that are visible across its neck, when it spreads its hood. Generally, a Highveld snake, the rinkhals is one of two spitting cobras in South Africa, the other being the Mozambique spitting cobra.

“The rinkhals inhabits bushveld terrain.”

Things to do when you come across a snake:

• Give the snake right of way

• You can scream and shout, but don’t jump or move

• Keep a distance of about 5m from the snake as some snakes can spit poison

• Watch where the snake ends up so as to assist to locate the reptile once you’ve contacted an expert

• Do not try to kill the snake. Trying to kill the snake may lead to a snake bite

• Call for help.

What to do if bitten by a snake or spat on in the eyes or an open wound:

• Do not panic

• Do not run or try to drive

• Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Who to phone for help with snakes in Etwatwa, Daveyton, Benoni, Actonville and Wattville:

• Mapesaka Maleka (079 180 9231)

• Lucky Mahlangu (083 237 7137)

• Mbali Masango (081 043 5354)