The Department of Environmental Health assured Alra Park and MacKenzieville residents during a public meeting at the MacKenzieville Community Hall on January 28 that the Clean and Green Rodent Control project is set to begin during March.
Project supervisor for the area Ruth Matshakatini, told residents that the poor service delivery resulting in poor sanitation, unkempt open spaces, unmaintained drains, illegal dumping and poor hygiene on private property are impacting on the increased rodent infestation in the Alra Park and MacKenzieville areas.
The integrated pest management approach was launched by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) in 2010 in order to effectively deal with this problem and will now complete one of the last legs in these areas.
Theodora Mokoena (project coordinator) told the public that the department will be working in partnership with communities in dealing with the rodent infestation problem.
“The aim of the programme is to integrate service delivery and reduce the rate of infestation in the priority areas from 90% to less than 30% by 2016”, Mokoena stated.
Matshakatini assured residents saying volunteers will be educated in block meetings and through ward councillor meetings.
She continued by saying the key results metrics include improved service delivery, which means improved refuse collection, reduced illegal dumping and maintenance of drains.
“There will be a reduction of environmental deficiencies in premises following inspections that will be done during premises surveys. Residents will be educated on control measures to take control of their environment and where there is no cooperation, private contractors will be used and costs recovered from the resident.
