AMONG reports that the huge Norway rat is infesting certain areas of the metro, the municipality claims rat infestation has dropped from 85 per cent in 2010 to 45 per cent.
The city is determined to minimise rodent infestation even more by introducing 400 volunteers that will represent the Rodent Control Community Programme.
The programme, which kicked off in Tembisa last week, is an extension of the city’s integrated rodent control strategy which has led to the decline of the rodent population in Ekurhuleni thus far.
Member of the mayoral committee for health, Clr Makhosazana Twala, said: “In 2012 we began with an interdepartmental approach, whereby various role players such as waste management services, human settlements, water services and the metro police teamed up with environmental health to tackle the elements which create a conducive environment for rodents to survive.
“Instead of embarking on once-off road shows to drive awareness, we are now getting residents directly involved to ensure sustainable success.”Three to four volunteers will be deployed to the 101 wards within the city. They will be tasked with conducting door-to-door visits, assessing and educating households with regards to their rodent control problems.
“They will work hand in hand with environmental health practitioners by conducting research, by-law education, identifying and reporting contributing factors such as illegal dumping,” Twala said.
She said the metro would test the project in the next 12 months. However, she is confident it will contribute positively towards eradicating rodents in Ekurhuleni.
However, according to a recent newspaper article Katlehong residents have nicknamed their area Ratlehong, as the East Rand’s rat infestation continues to worsen. According to reports Norway rats are also taking over in Rhodesfield, Birchleigh and Birch Acres.
The Norway rat is the largest member of the mouse family and may weigh in excess of 500 grams. They can reach lengths of 40cm and their tails alone may measure 21cm.
The body of the Norway rat is covered in brown or gray shaggy fur and the ears and tail in scales. It reaches sexual maturity in two to five months and can breed any month of the year. Litters may number from four to 22. Females can have three to 12 litters a year.
According to an article published in June 2009, Ekurhuleni introduced a five-phase plan to rid the metro of rats. Gas, rat cages, owl traps and drowning buckets were to be used.
The “integrated rodent control plan” is a collaboration between the local government, community and interest groups, the then Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality spokesman, Zweli Dlamini, said.
The second phase would have been to identify infested areas and factors that contributed to infestations in the wards, then baiting and trapping the rodents.
At the time Dlamini said the issuing of rat cages in hot spots like Tembisa, Thokoza, Katlehong and informal settlements proved useful. A bucket method was also piloted in Phomolong in Tembisa which involved using a bucket half-filled with water and sunflower seeds to capture and drown the rats.
The third phase of the project would focus on promoting environmentally healthy surroundings with community clean-up campaigns; the fourth phase
would be a community education campaign and the fifth enforcement of legislation, including the Environmental Conservation Act, Environmental Management Act and public health and solid waste by-laws.
