After eight years of rescuing snakes across Johannesburg, Yaseen Conradie is urging residents to put down their weapons and pick up their phones when they encounter these often-misunderstood reptiles. When most people encounter a snake, fear can quickly turn into an instinct to kill. But for Yaseen Conradie, popularly known as the Snake Man, every snake deserves a chance to live.
Based in Lenasia South, Conradie has dedicated the past eight years to rescuing snakes and relocating them to safer environments, helping residents deal with unexpected encounters while protecting reptiles that are often killed simply because people are afraid of them. His journey into snake rescue began after seeing heartbreaking reports in community groups about snakes being killed by residents who did not know how to handle the situation.“People were telling me that snakes were being killed, and it used to break my heart. I thought I had to come up with a way to save them,” he said.
Determined to make a difference, Conradie completed a snake-handling course, obtained a certificate of competence and secured a catch-and-release permit. What began as a response to the unnecessary killing of snakes has since grown into an eight-year commitment to rescuing them. For Conradie, one of the biggest challenges is changing the way people perceive snakes. He explained that not all snakes are venomous and that many people react out of fear rather than understanding the behaviour of the animal in front of them. “A snake is not like a vicious dog that is going to run after you to bite you. A snake is just as scared of you as you are of it. It will slither away from you, not towards you,” he said.
Conradie believes that giving snakes space and seeking professional assistance can prevent unnecessary harm to both people and animals. He is particularly passionate about the suffering snakes experience when they are killed. “They have a heartbeat and lungs. When people kill snakes, they feel every single pain. The saddest part is that a snake does not have a voice to scream for help,” he said. His message to residents is simple: fear should not have to end in the death of an animal.
Even when a snake is potentially dangerous, Conradie encourages people to keep their distance and contact a trained snake handler rather than attempting to kill or capture it themselves. Conradie’s work extends far beyond his home base in Lenasia South. He responds to calls from several areas across Johannesburg and beyond, including Lenasia, Soweto, Rosettenville, Vlakfontein, Diepsloot, Zakariyya Park, Eldorado Park, Randburg, Midrand, Brakpan, Meyerton and Walkerville.
His rescues include encounters with highly venomous snakes, such as rinkhals and black mambas, making proper training and safe handling essential. Despite the risks associated with his work, Conradie says his passion for snakes keeps him committed to the cause. “I am fearless. I love snakes. I love snakes with a passion,” he said. This year alone, he estimates that he has responded to close to 50 snake-related call-outs — a reflection of the demand for assistance and the important role snake handlers play in communities where residents may not know whom to contact.
Conradie’s efforts have also extended into community education and collaboration. Through two WhatsApp groups, he has built a network that connects residents with people who can assist when snakes are found on their properties or in public spaces. One of the groups has approximately 970 members, while the wider network includes about 55 snake handlers who cover different parts of Johannesburg. The groups help make assistance more accessible, particularly for residents who might otherwise feel that killing a snake is their only option.
For Conradie, saving snakes is not just about removing them from homes and gardens. It is also about encouraging people to understand that humans and wildlife can coexist when encounters are handled responsibly. Once a snake has been rescued, Conradie’s aim is to release it into a suitable environment where it can survive away from residential areas. Depending on the circumstances of a call-out, he may temporarily keep a rescued snake for a day or two before releasing it. On other occasions, he releases it on the return journey, provided a suitable and safe location is available.
His work is driven by the belief that snakes have a place in the natural environment and should not automatically be treated as threats that must be eliminated. As communities continue to expand into areas where people and wildlife may encounter one another, the need for responsible rescue and relocation becomes increasingly important.
Conradie hopes residents will begin to see snake handlers as the first point of contact when a snake appears, rather than resorting to violence out of panic. For residents of Lenasia South and surrounding areas, Conradie’s advice is clear: do not approach, provoke, touch or attempt to catch a snake yourself. Instead, move away, keep children and pets at a safe distance, and contact a trained snake handler for assistance. If a snake poses an immediate danger, keep clear and alert others without approaching it.
Residents who encounter a snake and need assistance can contact Yaseen Conradie, the Snake Man, on 065 696 9940. Through his dedication, Conradie is showing that protecting wildlife can begin with one simple decision — choosing to call for help instead of taking a life. For this Lenasia South snake rescuer, every call-out is an opportunity to replace fear with understanding and give another creature a second chance. And after eight years of doing just that, his mission continues, one rescue at a time.
