Invisible snake torments villagers from generations back
No one can tell with certainty that they have ever seen a snake inside the Molopye River that passes through Ntlhantlhe village.
However, a majority of the residents strongly believe that inside the river waters is a snake that comes out once in a blue moon to feast on human flesh. e claims have not been verified by anyone but people of this village grew up knowing that it was totally forbidden to play near the river waters. Elders always told them that the river was a no-go area.
Were the stern warnings only a scare to keep them away from drowning? ey are not sure as the warnings have been passed from generation to another so much that the snake talk has become embedded in their minds. And this is why when the unfortunate happens, such as the recent death of one of the residents, Tumelo Mokgethisi (35), who drowned in the river a few days back, residents were quick to conclude that the snake had once again returned to collect its dues. e snake talk is hard to ignore to the extent that even the family of the deceased finds itself torn over the matter. Some believe that the deceased was careless, especially that they are aware he was tipsy when he left home only to drown minutes later. “We are alive to the talk making rounds, as people of this village, we know of the snake myth but I believe he slipped and drowned. at river is deep, I was at the scene when he was retrieved, I believe he got stuck,” said Motsereganyi Tshekoeng (34) who identified himself as a cousin to the deceased.
Another cousin, Magwasi Modingwane, said they are confused as it is not the first time that a person dies mysteriously inside the river. He recalled how a few years back, a man was retrieved dead and the residents left shaking. It was terrifying for them to the extent that there was even a ‘beware snake’ signage placed near the river. “It is not wrong to be thinking like that when we grew up being told by our elders that there was a snake there,” he said. Another resident, Gadiinewe Ratladi (68) said they often went swimming inside the river and while swimming one day, they got spooked by increasing levels of water seemingly pushing their way. ey ran out and went home. Elderly Kgomotso and wife Segomotso Radimo who reside not far from the river also said they are alive to the snake talk in Ntlhantlhe. However, they have never seen the snake either. “What I remember is that I once saw something that appeared like an animal head, I am not sure what that animal was because it emerged and disappeared into the water at the speed of lightning. “I am not sure what animals are in that water and cannot conclude that it was a
snake,” Radimo said.