The city council wants to strengthen its partnership with community-based organisations to help with awareness campaigns in its war against rodents.
Environmental health director Peter Manganye said this after observing a new electric rodent trap cage at Boikhutsong flats in 5th Avenue. The cage called EKOMille was installed last month by Pest Free SA and is a pilot which if successful, will be an additional method of catching rats such as the use of metal rat cages, fumigation, owls and chemicals.
Manganye said, “We should in three months be able to decide on whether to adopt them [new electric rodent traps]. The challenge is that rodents are smart animals which avoid human scent. The cage should therefore remain untouched for a longer time so that they can get used to it. Also, the area around should be fairly clean so that food in the cage should be the only attraction.”
He stressed that rodent control required increased community involvement through awareness education on environmental health by community-based organisations. Community involvement would also encourage residents to take ownership of the cages and help to protect owls.
Details: City of Joburg; 011 355 3000
