Supplied
The love for keeping people safe and secure is the main reason why Captain Joanita Becker, a SAPS Porter pilot in the Northern Cape, trained herself as a registered snake catcher in Kimberley and surrounding areas.
In a statement, SAPS said Captain Becker responded immediately on Sunday to a call that a highly venomous Cape cobra was spotted in Belmont SAPS Community Service Centre.
But, before she could attend to the cobra, she also found and caught a Puff Adder just outside the police station.
Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said it took Captain Becker around 20 minutes to trace and catch the Cape Cobra which was hiding in a filing cabinet in the police station.
The snakes were released into their natural habitat.
Kock said Becker completed her level 1 and 2 snake catchers’ courses between 2019 and 2022 in Kimberley through the African Snake Bite Institute and is trained to identify, catch and release a snake into its natural habitat.
She also received training to administer first aid to snake bite victims.
Northern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola commended Captain Becker for going the extra mile in ensuring the safety of the community and SAPS members.
#sapsNC Northern Cape #SAPS Pilot saves the day by catching two snakes at Belmont Police Station. On Sunday, 26/01, Capt Becker, also a registered snake catcher, immediately responded to the call of highly venomous snakes spotted in Belmont SAPS Community Service (CSC). The… pic.twitter.com/L8f8yIElwi
— SA Police Service ???????? (@SAPoliceService) January 27, 2025
