The city council is adding a new weapon to its arsenal in the war against rodents in Alexandra.
The addition, electronic equipment called EKOmille, is a pesticide-free and environmentally-friendly product shaped like a mini double-storey house. It was piloted by Region E’s environmental health department at Boikhutsong Flats, 5th Avenue, which is regarded as one of the rodent hotspots.
Operated by battery, it traps rats and other vermin which are lured in with drugged food which makes them drowsy. They then fall into an alcohol-based liquid solution where they drown. The solution also preserves the carcasses before they are collected for incineration.
Justin Bissechoff of Pest Free, the company piloting the product, said the gadget has been in use internationally with some success for 21 years, including in Cape Town. “It can contain more than 80 rats when full and includes a monthly service of battery replacement, bait and other food replenishment, removal of caught rodents, replenishment of the solution, cleaning the equipment and reporting on the catch,” he said.
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Bissechoff added that trapped rodents were also recorded by a counter to minimise counting errors. The solution also stops the bodies from rotting and emitting a foul smell before their removal.
Thami Zwane of the department said the equipment, in addition to the rat cages, owls, fumigation and environmental campaigns, was part of the city’s intensification of its strategy and war on rodents. He added that the pilot was in conjunction with a rodent blitz by pest control operators through ongoing public health education and distribution of relevant pamphlets.
“The combined approach aims to improve public attitude on health and will not stop. The effectiveness of the product will depend on results [before being] rolled out to other hotspots to complement other strategies,” said Zwane.
These he said, include waste management campaigns at schools, working with housing committees to educate residents to stop the rampant disposal of food and other items conducive to rodent breeding.
Zola Siphoko, chairperson of the Boikhutsong Flats Residents’ Committee said they welcome any assistance in getting rid of rodents which held them hostage in their homes, especially in the evening when the rats come out to scavenge.
“Their population has increased exponentially and sometimes they attack children and pose a danger of spreading deadly diseases,” he concluded.
Details: Region E, Department of Environmental Health 011 582 1510.
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