Well even I thought it was a poisonous snake, as the image in my snake book, looked nothing like the snake in question, as you can see for yourself:
It was an honest mistake, at the time, the image in the book looked nothing like the snake. I thought at most, it could be a adolescent bush cobra - again, I didn't know they have same skin colours and patterns from adolescence.
I'll be sure to live and let live next time, I can't recall in 24 years that we've ever had a snake like this. Most of the time, it's a dangerous snake - I remember several months ago, in winter, we came across a nest of bush cobra's, a mother (assuming) and several young - lying between layers of slasto. Again, I know they are shy creatures, and very docile - yet, for the safety of our pets and people, they had to be done away with.
I did my research on snake repellents - if they truly existed, I would've used 'em. We don't actively seek out and destroy snakes.