Community supports Table View snake catcher

The season of giving is well underway, and the Table View community has rallied together to support a local snake-catcher.

Davine Sansom, who works throughout the Western Seaboard up to Duinefontein, received a collection of tools and funds from the community, who rallied together to assist her during the busy snake-catching season, which began on Monday, September 1.

The fundraiser was organised by Romy Shantall, a Blaauwberg resident who oversees the residential chat groups in Sunningdale. “Davine does a thankless task, and I felt that the community should give back,” she said.

She said she approached a social media chat group of 322 residents and asked if they would contribute what they could towards the equipment Ms Sanso needed. 

Within days, donations started coming in, she said.

So far, Ms Shantall has raised R3010, which has been used to purchase snake tongs, snake buckets, gloves for handling smaller snakes, and a R2000 petrol voucher to assist with Ms Sansom’s travel.

“One of the garage management teams even added R248.40 to round off the voucher to make it R2000, which was incredibly generous. There is no greater reward than helping someone who helps our community and the wildlife around us,” she said.

Tabletalk spoke to Ms Sansom as she headed to Melkbosstrand to attend a call-out for a Cape cobra spotted under a resident’s deck. 

"I am extremely busy at the moment, but the most rewarding part of my job is freeing the snakes and returning them to their natural habitat,” she said.

Ms Sansom, who has been rescuing snakes from the greater Table View area and surrounding nature reserves for many years, described some of her challenges. 

“Keeping myself, the animals, and residents safe is my top priority. Other challenges include overgrown gardens and cluttered areas. I use tongs, hook sticks, bins, and pillowcases for non-venomous snakes, and welding gloves for venomous ones,” she said.

She said that new equipment is expensive and often needs replacing, so the support from the community means the world to her.

Ms Sansom said that last season alone, she removed 139 snakes from properties, most of them venomous, and said she realised the importance of educating the public about the creatures. 

“People need to understand that snakes live in their natural habitats, and with all the building encroaching on these areas, they often end up in our properties seeking food, water, and shelter. Snakes do not want to harm us—they are more scared of us—but it is crucial to never confront or touch them,” she said.

Ms Sansom said she was overwhelmed by the support.

“I was in tears of joy! I am so thankful to the community for their help and kindness. I am now able to work safely with the new tools I so desperately needed. The generosity has made a huge difference, and I will forever be grateful.”