Africa-Press – Eswatini. While many people flee at the sight of a snake, Constable Nontobeko Sukati of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) runs towards the danger.
Sukati is the police officer who captured the attention of thousands during Friday’s Police Day celebrations at the Police Academy, where she confidently paraded with a live python before Their Majesties and the gathered audience. The remarkable display showcased not only her courage but also her passion and expertise in handling snakes.
Driven by a lifelong love for reptiles, the police officer has become one of the volunteers assisting communities across Eswatini by safely retrieving snakes that find their way into homes and homesteads.
“I always had love for snakes,” Sukati said, explaining what inspired her to pursue specialised training in handling the often-feared animals.
To turn her passion into a skill that could benefit the nation, Sukati underwent training with the Eswatini Antivenom Foundation, where she learned how to safely identify, handle and rescue snakes.
The knowledge she acquired has since been put to good use, particularly when communities encounter pythons and other snakes in residential areas.
Sukati said she and fellow volunteers regularly respond to calls from emaSwati whose homes have been invaded by snakes, especially pythons.
“We do volunteer at times to assist emaSwati when pythons have invaded a homestead, for instance. We go and retrieve those snakes,” she said.
Despite the risks involved, Sukati said the work is purely voluntary and is carried out as a service to the public.
“We are not hired, we just do that as voluntary work and we are not paid for it,” she added.
Her commitment has helped ensure that dangerous situations are handled safely while also protecting snakes from being unnecessarily killed out of fear.
Sukati’s story highlights how passion, backed by proper training, can make a meaningful contribution to public safety and wildlife conservation. Through her volunteer efforts, she continues to provide reassurance to frightened families while promoting the safe and humane handling of snakes across the country.
