First a python, now a monkey! The RUSA team are proving to be heroes not only to people but to wildlife too.

Canelands, KwaZulu-Natal (09 September 2025) – The brave officers from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) are proving that when it comes to compassion for animals, lightning really can strike twice!

Just weeks after they safely relocated a 2.5-metre African Rock Python, the team has once again stepped in, this time to save an injured vervet monkey.

On Monday morning, an adult male vervet fell nearly six metres from a roof during a fight with a troop in Canelands. The fall left him with serious injuries to both back legs. While trying to move him to safety, the monkey ducked into a narrow pipe that led into a stormwater drain, a place where rescue could have become impossible.

The officers didn’t give up.

With patience and care, they managed to bring the frightened soul out without incident, ensuring he could get the urgent medical attention he needed. By the afternoon, the monkey was recovering safely at the RUSA headquarters while a wildlife organisation was contacted to take over his care.

It’s the second time in as many months that these security officers have found themselves swapping crime scenes for rescue scenes! Once again, they showed the kind of courage that makes them real heroes far beyond their job descriptions.

Vervet monkeys, known locally as blouaap (Afrikaans) or inkawu (isiZulu), are a common sight in South Africa, but their lives are far from easy. They’re highly social animals that live in troops of up to 50, and fights, especially between males, can be fierce. They’re also under constant pressure from shrinking habitats and urban conflict, often forced into dangerous spaces where accidents like this happen.

Monday’s rescue highlights how important it is for people and wildlife to coexist with care. These officers didn’t just prevent further suffering for the little monkey, they reminded us all that every animal life matters. Compassion is a choice we can make every day.

To the RUSA team, once again, hats off. First a python, now a monkey. We actually can’t wait to see what you’ll save next!

Update: Since the RUSA team’s heartfelt efforts to rescue the injured monkey, medical examinations revealed that its injuries were human-inflicted. The monkey had been shot with a pellet gun, and its injuries were too severe to treat. The monkey has since been humanely euthanised. Without the RUSA team’s efforts, the poor soul could have suffered unnecessarily. Thank you for being wildlife heroes, RUSA! Thank you for being there.

Sources: Linked above

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Three very brave security officers gave one giant python a new chance and kept a community out of fear’s way.

Canelands, KwaZulu-Natal (20 August 2025) – When Officers Nathi Ndaba, Thulani Blose, and Kumaran Marimuthu from Reaction Unit South Africa headed out to investigate a stolen car on Saturday, they didn’t expect to become snake rescuers instead.

But fate had a wild detour in mind. A 2.5-metre African Rock Python was spotted close to homes and businesses near an informal settlement.

Instead of panic, the officers stepped into action with courage that many of us would not be able to muster. They carefully captured the massive snake, making sure both residents and the python stayed safe. Realising the snake needed a proper home, they called in the experts at Ndlondlo Snake Park in Ballito, who quickly stepped in to assist with the safe relocation.

African Rock Pythons are the giants of our snake world. Sometimes growing up to 5 metres and weighing as much as 55 kg. Despite their size, they’re usually shy, spending their days hiding out on rocky outcrops, basking in the sun, or swimming in rivers and pools.

They’re not venomous, but they’re powerful constrictors with striking patterns that have given rise to plenty of myths and legends. Despite their reputation, they are protected in South Africa as a vulnerable species.

But being so close to people, and with their striking size and strength, can put them at risk from misunderstanding or fear. By safely relocating the python, Reaction Unit SA gave this particular snake a second chance, while also demonstrating what selfless community action for wildlife can look like.

So, hats off to the brave officers!

Sources: Linked above

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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