Multiple snake sightings – including of a black mamba – at a clinic in Ngcolosi, near Hillcrest, have raised safety concerns and forced it to shut its doors. leaving patients stranded.
Staff said snakes had been spotted in the pharmacy and in the filing room, and while a snake catcher recently removed a black mamba from the premises, regular visitors say this was not the first incident. Locals say there have been at least four other snake sightings at the clinic, with some also reporting encounters with rock monitors (leguaans).
A visit to the clinic by Weekend Witness revealed large holes in the broken ceiling and birds’ nests inside the building, adding to concerns about the facility’s condition.
Ward councillor Siyabonga Nala said he was aware of the problem, and had visited the clinic after a call about the mamba.
“When I got there, the nurse in charge showed me videos of a black mamba going into the ceiling.
“I asked the nurses who were sitting outside why they were not working when there are three mobile clinics parked in the grounds, and I was told they were afraid,” said Nala, admitting that the clinic was in desperate need of repairs.
Frustrated residents blocked roads with tyres on Friday, demanding action.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said the area “has a history of snake infestations”.
Despite the clinic building being temporarily closed because of the snakes, primary healthcare services were still being provided, added Maphisa.
However, when The Witness visited the clinic, no services were being rendered.
The Witness article – Snake infestation forces closure of clinic (Open access)
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