Is the Pikitup depot a source of rodents?
NORWOOD – A pre-school located near the Pikitup depot in Norwood is invaded by rats.
Despite fumigation, rats have been a huge problem at the Pikitup depot in Norwood and the nearby Coronation Day Care Centre is the latest victim of this problem.
For a few months, the pre-school has been trying to solve the problem and alleges that authorities were not attending to their queries.
According to Stella Makande of the school, the rats had doubled in size while the authorities responsible were not taking any action on the unhealthy situation faced by the school.
She said at one stage the rats were out of control and not even afraid of people anymore. Last month, there was an owl that took up residence near their premises for a few days and the rats disappeared but when the bird left, the rats returned.
Makande alleged that some of the residential properties close to the school are overcrowded and this may be contributing to the problem.
Pikitup spokesperson, Muzi Mkhwanazi, said the utility was not aware of the rat problem. He added that they were sharing the site with Johannesburg Roads Agency.
“Pikitup has a pest control service that services the depot, therefore maintenance of the rodents is controlled through rodent bait stations and the depot is not experiencing problems nor challenges with rodents,” said Mkhwanazi.
He said the Norwood garden site which was located next to the depot was also well maintained through good housekeeping practices and daily cleaning of the site was done by their general attendants who were based on-site.
“At the back of the depot there’s a park which is well-maintained and there is no hoarding of old material at the depot, and Pikitup is maintaining its site and cannot be the source of rodents,” he claimed.
Makande said the utility had since emptied a skip which was full of rubbish outside the pre-school’s gate which was also believed to have attracted rodents.
She said they had contacted the health department about fumigating the properties situated close to their pre-school.
“Something needs to be done because even if we fumigate our property, the rats take cover for a few days then come back,” she said.
Details: Pikitup 011 712 5200.
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/239160/pikitup-clears-waste-violent-protests-inner-city/
