Sangoma unleash pythons in the CBD

TWO "BABY"pythons drew a crowd in South Africa's  Joburg CBD this week.

Traditional healer Mbuso Makhathini had parked his car on the corner of President and Kort streets shortly before 2pm on Tuesday to promote his Durban based company, Isakhamuzi Herbs.

Two of Makhathini's 27 snakes were inside the car, and the creatures quickly drew the attention of pedestrains.

"Snakes are a tool in my profession. My grandfather used them," said Makhathini, wearing a t-shirt bearing his own image. "I don't sell snakes. I don't kill snakes."

The large snake resting in the boot of Makhathini's BMW was 4m long and weighs 41kgs. At four and a half years old, the python was what Makhathini called "a baby."

A smaller snake sunned itself on the dashboard as passerby took photos with their cellphones.

"I don't lock my car," he said.

"They (Snakes) are my security systems."

At the crowd's urging, Makhathini eventually took the two snakes out of his car and draped them around his neck. He smiled for the cameras, kissed one snake and even put its head in his mouth.

"Everywhere I go, the Eastern Cape, Cape Town, I get a crowd. But this is the CBD, so its going to cause trouble. In the CBD, every crowd can cause an accident."

By 3.30pm, however, no accident had occurred and the throng of spectators had not diminished.

Comments