Help at hand for rodent management
The City’s Health Directorate has a proactive rodent management plan in place to deal with the seasonal increase in rodent numbers, including baiting stations in vulnerable areas.
The City of Cape Town has refined its rodent management strategy over the years to accommodate the seasonal increase in the number of rodents, generally during September and October and then again in March and April. As a result, most of the City’s large-scale rodent baiting occurs at this time of year.
‘Cape Town is no different from other major cities around the world, which all have to deal with pests, including rats – especially in the context of an ever-growing population and the waste that it generates. Rats and other pests thrive in areas where they have a steady food supply, stormwater drainage systems, and no predators,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Benedicta Van Minnen.
The City’s Environmental Health staff, assisted by workers employed via the Expanded Public Works Programme, do rodent baiting across the city and in the last year set up 83 247 such rodent baiting stations. City Health offers a free rodent control service to members of marginalised communities that can be accessed by contacting their local Environmental Health office or by leaving a rodent complaint at their local municipal clinic. In other areas, baiting is done in public areas and not on individual premises.
‘Our staff members also spend a considerable amount of time going door-to-door to educate residents about effective waste management and how to rodent-proof their homes. Rats will congregate in areas that are conducive to their survival, so it’s essential to keep areas clean through the proper disposal of waste and tackling illegal dumping,’ added Councillor Van Minnen.
Where applicable, the City institutes legal action against persons responsible for creating conditions that encourage rodent breeding. Other measures that the City has in place include:
- The appointment of waste contractors to collect waste in both formal and informal areas throughout the city
- Provision of rodent-proof waste containers across the city
- Ongoing waste management education in schools and communities
- Regular inspections of business premises to ensure that effective rodent control measures are in place
The Environmental Health staff proactively identify potential ‘hot spot’ areas for infestation, like CBDs, public transport interchanges, and beachfront promenades. In addition, they conduct weekly visits to informal settlements as per City Health business plan to determine the status around solid waste removal, sanitation and rodent activity and to perform block baiting of perimeter sewer drains bordering informal settlements. City Health is continually reviewing the rodent control methodology, with a view to using eco-friendly products and approaches and to cut back on the use of pesticides.
‘We have a strategy, but we need the support of communities for it to be effective. This includes keeping their areas clean, but also reporting concerns around service delivery. If you notice an increase in the presence of rats, visit your nearest clinic or environmental health office for help. If your waste isn’t being collected on schedule, report it to the City so that we can address the issue. If you’re a private property owner or business owner, make sure you’re disposing of your waste responsibly and instituting rodent control measures. This needs to be a partnership in order to make true progress. We can’t be everywhere, but we have the means to help our residents if they raise such issues timeously,’ said Councillor Van Minnen.
Residents can contact their nearest Environmental Health office or lodge a complaint with the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089 for any rodent-related matters.