"I will burn down this building… I will bring my snakes into this building. I will find that guy and put my green mambas on him." These were the threats directed at Grocott's Mail reporter Lungile Mpharu this week by a man claiming to be a friend of snake victim Shaun Moolman, who died on Sunday night after a red spitting cobra ejected its venom in his face.
"I will burn down this building… I will bring my snakes into this building. I will find that guy and put my green mambas on him." These were the threats directed at Grocott's Mail reporter Lungile Mpharu this week by a man claiming to be a friend of snake victim Shaun Moolman, who died on Sunday night after a red spitting cobra ejected its venom in his face.
Update (26 September 2011): An apology has been issued.
Grocott's Mail reported on the incident in its Tuesday edition ("Man dies after snake attack"). The report quoted police spokesperson Captain Mail Govender, who said Moolman and a friend had been preparing to take a photograph of the newly acquired snake – one of 89 reptiles Moolman had been keeping – when it spat venom in his face.
At the time, police said it appeared that Moolman, who was reportedly asthmatic, appeared to have died of respiratory failure. This was subsequently confirmed by the post-mortem report.
Hearing a commotion in the Grocott's Mail shop area on Tuesday afternoon the paper's news editor, Abongile Mgaqelwa, introduced herself to the man who said he was Moolman's friend, and asked what his concern was. "I want to see the guy who wrote this," he shouted, referring to Tuesday's article.
"If I do not see him, I will burn down this building! I'm serious, I will bring my snakes into this building! I will find that guy and put my green mambas on him! "Snakes do not attack people. This is disrespectful to my friend!" he shouted.
One of his two companions said, "You are spitting on our friend's grave. We told you, no comment!" Before the three left, the man threatened to find all the people who had commented on the story and put his poisonous snakes on them.
Grocott's Mail staff members called the police, in case the man returned to act on his promises. The police came to Grocott's Mail the following day to take statements from staff members who had witnessed the incident.
Since then, Mpharu says he has felt threatened, and that he's had to look over his shoulder whenever he is out on the streets, or at work.
According to website ehow.com, the venom from red spitting cobras can cause breathing difficulties and may be lethal, especially for people with respiratory problems. Another website, www.wisegeek.com says of the snakes: "The venom from the red spitting cobra paralyses the swallowing and respiratory muscles of prey and might cause blindness if it enters the eyes."
