Rat cage pilot project vandalised
ALEXANDRA - A councillor has expressed outrage at resident's uncaring and indifferent attitude to council's attempt to improve their surroundings in particular on health and hygiene.
Ward 75 councillor Chris Mabunda is outraged by residents’ uncaring and indifferent attitude toward city council’s effort to improve their surroundings, especially when it comes to health and hygiene.
Mabunda said this after a rat cage pilot project at Boikhutsong Flats on 5th Avenue was vandalised twice before city council had an opportunity to assess if the project was an effective innovation to help eradicate rats in the township. At the launch of the project earlier this year, Peter Manganyi, director for city council’s Department of Environmental Health said if successful, the project would add to other attempts by the council to contain the rat menace such as gassing of burrows, storm water drains and sewer mains, as well as owls placed at some schools.
The project was contracted to a private company which installed the rat cage, which operates electronically to trap and kill rats. The project has now stopped working after the equipment was allegedly vandalised by people ravaging for scrap to sell. Although Mabunda couldn’t pinpoint the suspect(s), his suspicion pointed to nyaope [drug] addicts who he said were desperate for anything to sell to maintain their addiction. He said that often they did this in full view of the public which didn’t care even when they knew a facility for their own benefit was being stripped. He said the public only came forward to complain about their surroundings instead of stopping vandals from, or while, damaging public property and assets.
Mabunda said the matter was reported to the environmental health department and he awaits feedback. Meanwhile, he said despite it being a difficult task, he will urge council to continue its public education on health and hygiene awareness and the police to continue to tow away scrapped cars which are breeding places for rats and other vermin.
Details: Councillor Chris Mabunda; 072 316 5415.
Why does the public act indifferently rather than stop vandals from damaging public property?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweet us @AlexNewsZA
Add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
