Jan 'Slang' asks for support in covering his legal costs

Date: 24 October 2025 By: 

In an effort to help him cover his legal costs, Louis Trichardt snake handler Jan “Slang” van Rooyen has started a BackaBuddy page asking his supporters for financial assistance.

Van Rooyen is a well-known snake catcher in the Louis Trichardt/Vhembe area, and he has been active for several years in capturing and relocating snakes, building a public persona in wildlife rescue and snake handling.

On 4 June this year, officials from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) conducted a raid at his property. They confiscated 21 snakes (including venomous, non-venomous, indigenous, and non-indigenous species) that Van Rooyen was keeping in captivity. For this, he was arrested and brought before court.

Subsequently, on another occasion, inspectors from the Louis Trichardt SPCA visited his premises and found additional exotic or protected animals (e.g. a banded mongoose and a bearded dragon) in captivity. Van Rooyen was arrested again and spent eight days in jail from 3 to 10 July before being released on bail. The cases against him are currently pending, with a request that they be transferred to the regional court. Litigation in a regional court is expensive, and a conviction carries harsher penalties, including prison time and/or a hefty fine.

To help him cover his legal costs, Van Rooyen started a BackaBuddy page titled “Support Jan Slang's Love for Animals Legal Battle.”

“I am reaching out with humility to ask for your support in a difficult time. As many of you know, I have always been a passionate advocate for animals. I have been dedicating my time, energy, and resources to their care, protection, and the promotion of conservation. Sadly, this dedication has now placed me in conflict with the law. Because of the strict interpretation of the Local Environmental Management Act (LEMA), I am facing legal challenges that threaten not only my freedom, but also my ability to continue standing up for animals,” Van Rooyen writes on the page.

Van Rooyen said he believed in the importance of justice, but quality legal representation came at a cost. “To ensure that my side of the story is fully and fairly heard in court, I need to raise funds to cover legal fees. Without your support, I risk losing the case, which would not only impact me personally but could set a precedent against others who dedicate themselves to caring for and protecting animals,” says Van Rooyen.

Regarding this, Van Rooyen says that any donation, no matter how small, would go directly towards his legal services. “By contributing, you will be helping me fight for fairness, for the animals, and for a more compassionate interpretation of the law,” says Van Rooyen.

To contribute, visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/support-jan-slangs-love-for-animals-legal-battle.

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