Four live snakes have slithered out of a package at the Sabie post office, in Mpumalanga, it was reported.
Postal workers could not leave the sorting room fast enough when the reptiles made their appearance on Monday from a package posted on the East Rand.
A member of the local parks board was called to the scene, and the snakes were caught and removed.
According to the newspaper the sender of the package had been charged with the illegal transportation of wildlife.
"It's illegal to post any live animal, liquids that might leak and damage other postal items or radioactive materials," Ndala Mnisi, the executive in charge of the Post Office's outlets.