IT WAS a harrowing encounter for a Willowvale school teacher who almost lost control of her vehicle this week when a snake slithered across her windscreen.
Vuyokazi Pakati, 41, was driving through the notorious Mthentu Cuttings, near Mthatha, when the stowaway made its appearance, and she had to control her panic, while keeping an eye on the snake, for almost a kilometre before she could safely stop her car.
Once she had pulled over, she grabbed her three-year-old son, fled her vehicle, and flagged down a passing car for help.
“One of the men who came to assist tried to use a stick to remove the snake near the wipers but it disappeared into the engine. Later they called the police.
“The police were so helpful. One of the officers kept phoning me, telling me not to panic and scare the snake,” said Pakati.
Captain Mkhuseli Shakes Nqumama, who is attached to the National Intervention Unit but is locally regarded as a snake expert, accompanied by Constable Dan Tomodi, worked more than two hours trying to retrieve the snake.
“Firstly, it was hiding in the left fender but as we tried to retrieve it disappeared into the engine and we later found it coiled up in another fender. We were forced to strip the fender to reach it,” Nqumama explained.
Police commended Pakati for the car to a safe stopping spot.
“In fact the brave one was my son. He was not afraid of it.
“He saw his mother was panicking, but the only thing he wanted to do was to touch it and play with it.
“He is the one who made me look a bit more collected,” said Pakati, who believes the snake may have hitched a ride at Zwelilungile Junior Secondary School in Willowvale.
“There are big trees and grass. I won’t park there again. But I am thankful the police managed to find it,” she said.
The snake, which was later identified as a striped grass snake or skaapsteker, a small, harmless snake, was taken to the Mthatha SPCA. —
Snake scares teacher and her son, 3
Vuyokazi Pakati, 41, was driving through the notorious Mthentu Cuttings, near Mthatha, when the stowaway made its appearance, and she had to control her panic, while keeping an eye on the snake, for almost a kilometre before she could safely stop her car.
Once she had pulled over, she grabbed her three-year-old son, fled her vehicle, and flagged down a passing car for help.
“One of the men who came to assist tried to use a stick to remove the snake near the wipers but it disappeared into the engine. Later they called the police.
“The police were so helpful. One of the officers kept phoning me, telling me not to panic and scare the snake,” said Pakati.
Captain Mkhuseli Shakes Nqumama, who is attached to the National Intervention Unit but is locally regarded as a snake expert, accompanied by Constable Dan Tomodi, worked more than two hours trying to retrieve the snake.
“Firstly, it was hiding in the left fender but as we tried to retrieve it disappeared into the engine and we later found it coiled up in another fender. We were forced to strip the fender to reach it,” Nqumama explained.
Police commended Pakati for the car to a safe stopping spot.
“In fact the brave one was my son. He was not afraid of it.
“He saw his mother was panicking, but the only thing he wanted to do was to touch it and play with it.
“He is the one who made me look a bit more collected,” said Pakati, who believes the snake may have hitched a ride at Zwelilungile Junior Secondary School in Willowvale.
“There are big trees and grass. I won’t park there again. But I am thankful the police managed to find it,” she said.
The snake, which was later identified as a striped grass snake or skaapsteker, a small, harmless snake, was taken to the Mthatha SPCA. —
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