South African man keeps his car safe by placing two pythons on his dashboard

Forget immobilizers, trackers and alarms – this is car security South African style.

A car owner in Durban has found a way of combating spiralling vehicle crime: leave two deadly pythons on the dashboard.

The giant reptiles slither round inside his Audi TT while their faith healer owner, Dr Mbuso Makhathini, visits customers.



Named Tiny and Naughty, the male snakes have become something of a tourist attraction in the coastal city with onlookers keeping a cautious distance.

Both are African Rock Pythons with four-and-a-half-year-old Tiny measuring an impressive 12ft and Naughty, three, not far behind at 10ft.

Dr Makhathini, 37, who runs a traditional African healing clinic, says the snakes are pets as well as guards. 'I take them around with me but no one has dared break into my car. They come up and look but don’t get too close. They can sense if someone is unfriendly and they hiss and start coiling.'