MAID BITTEN BY SNAKE AT POLICE CAMP, DIES

SITEKI – Tragedy struck at Tshaneni Police camp when a domestic worker to one of the female officers was bitten by a venomous snake and later died in hospital.

The tragic incident reportedly occurred about a week ago, just when the officer and her helper were about to retire for the day. The deceased has been identified as Nomfundo Kunene from Buhleni, but her exact age and other particulars were not immediately ascertained. Information reaching this publication is that the snake had slithered into the helper’s bed and she accidentally touched it with her feet, as she was preparing to sleep. In reaction, the snake bit her a couple of times in the legs, injecting its lethal venom into her system, said a source privy to the full details of the incident. “She screamed for help and her employee quickly called in her colleagues to assist. They rushed her to Mhlume Health Centre before she was transferred to Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki. However, she died while undergoing treatment,” said the source.

When reached for comment, the officer who employed Nomfundo, said she was still distraught to talk about the matter. However, she did mention that the snake which bit her maid looked more like the Mozambican spitting cobra (imfeti). She further revealed that Nomfundo had worked for her for about six months, at the time she met her death. “She was a nice girl, who was also well behaved,” the officer said in a sad tone, while describing her deceased domestic worker. She added that Nomfundo was rushed to hospital immediately after the snake had bitten her, further stating that they were hoping that she would recover. “Her family is still traumatised by her death,” said the officer while also mentioned that the mother of the deceased was currently in South Africa. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba, described the incident as ‘very tragic’. He confirmed that it took place within the premises of the Tshaneni Police camp.

Meanwhile, Thea Litschka, who has expertise in catching snakes and is quite knowledgeable on snake bites and treatment, said it was unlikely that Nomfundo was bitten by a Mozambican spitting cobra. Instead, Litschka, who is also the founder of the Swaziland Anti-Venom Foundation and the Swaziland Snake Bite Authority, stated that the deceased may have been bitten by a snouted cobra (Phemphentfwane). “It (snouted cobra) has got a very toxic venom,” she stated.
She further said it was baffling how the woman could have died if she received doses of anti-venom at both Mhlume Health centre and at Good Shepherd hospital. “It’s unusual for someone who has received so much anti-venom to die from the snake bite,” added Litschka. She said this could only happen if the person had an allergic reaction to the anti-venom or the anti-venom did not neutralise the venom that had been inflicted by the snake.
Litschka further said she would need to see the image of the snake which bit Nomfundo so that she may be in a position to identify its exact species.

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