Police officers face slithering danger
A client and police members ran helter-skelter after a snake emerged from a water drain next to the entrance of the offices at the Boksburg police station.
According to a police officer, who did not wish to be named, the incident occurred at noon, on February 12.
“A member of the public spotted the snake while he was approaching the entrance of the offices to have his fingerprints taken.
“Our attention was drawn to the snake near our offices by the client, who shouted ‘snake! Here comes a snake!'”
Police members, who were inside their offices, panicked and stampeded for the exit. They were under the impression the snake was inside the building.
At the time, the snake – identified as rinkhals – made its way towards the client, before it slithered into an underground pipe.
The rinkhals, also called the ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra, is a venomous elapid species found in parts of southern Africa.
One member started pouring boiled water into the pipe, but the snake remained inside.
Other officers from the other buildings were also called for reinforcement.
Gripped by fear, some of the officers stood a considerable distance away from the scene.
They eventually called the SPCA.
The SPCA arrived and removed the snake, which is said to have later succumbed to its burn injuries.
Things went back to normal but some officers reportedly looked traumatised and shaken by the incident.
