Pest control in Randfontein covers town houses, complexes, plots and businesses, and the main problems are rats, harvester termites in dry lawns and veld, flies and ticks on smallholdings, and cockroaches in kitchens. Combat Pest Control works in Randfontein from Johannesburg, treating what we find after an inspection rather than spraying blindly.
Randfontein's mix
Randfontein is a West Rand town that grew on gold mining, and the mine dumps, slimes dams and old mine land are still part of the landscape. Around the town centre are older suburbs of freestanding houses, newer complexes and estates, the townships of Mohlakeng and Toekomsrus, and plenty of smallholdings and plots on the outskirts. There's light industry and a lot of open, dry grassland. The West Rand has proper Highveld winters, with cold nights and frost, and heavy summer storms.
That spread means the right treatment depends a lot on where in Randfontein you live. A townhouse near the centre and a plot with chickens and horses on the edge of town have very different problems.
Rats and mice
Rodents are the most common call on the West Rand, and they peak when the cold arrives in late autumn and rats move from the veld into ceilings, garages and storerooms. On plots, they live in feed rooms, chicken runs and under stacked material. In town, roof rats get in at the eaves and brown rats come up from drains and under paving. We use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations where children, pets and livestock can't reach the bait, and traps inside the house. The real fix is closing the gaps they use, and on a smallholding, storing feed in rat-proof containers.
Termites in lawns, veld and buildings
Harvester termites are a big one in Randfontein's dry grassland. They strip lawns and grazing in winter, leaving bare ground, small holes and soil heaps, and on plots they compete with livestock for grass. Subterranean termites go for timber in buildings: door frames, cupboards, roof trusses and old outbuildings. Each is treated differently, so we identify the species first. See our termite control service for what each treatment involves. Building termite treatments carry a 5-year guarantee with a certificate, and we also pre-treat the soil for new building work.
Flies and ticks on smallholdings
Animals, manure and feed bring house flies and stable flies in summer. Fly control on a plot is mostly about manure management and drainage, backed up by targeted treatment where flies rest and breed. Brown dog ticks and other ticks build up in kennels, long grass and around outbuildings; we treat those areas and you treat the animals at the same time.
Cockroaches and ants in town
German cockroaches are common in kitchens, flats and food businesses, and they travel between units in complexes. We use gel baits in their hiding places rather than spraying. Ants come in before the summer rain, and baits that go back to the nest clear them properly.
Businesses on the West Rand
Shops, butcheries, takeaways, warehouses and workshops in and around Randfontein can have a scheduled monitoring contract: lockable stations in fixed, numbered positions, regular visits, cockroach and fly control in kitchens and food areas, and a written service record each time. That record is what an environmental health officer or a client's auditor wants to see, and it shows quickly if pressure is building from a neighbouring property or the veld behind the building.
Signs to look for
- Droppings in the feed room, pantry or garage, and gnawed bags or bins
- Scratching in the ceiling on cold nights
- Bare, sandy patches in the lawn or paddock with small holes and soil heaps
- Mud tubes on walls, door frames or the inside of an outbuilding
- Flies clustering on walls and ceilings of stables and patios in summer
What people get wrong
On plots, it's using loose rat poison in the feed room or chicken run. Dogs, cats, chickens and owls end up eating poisoned bait or poisoned rats, and the rats keep coming because the feed is still open to them. Bait belongs in a locked station, and feed belongs in a metal bin with a lid.
A West Rand tip
Before winter, walk round your house and outbuildings and look for gaps at ground level: broken air bricks, holes around pipes, gaps under garage and storeroom doors. Close them in April, before the cold pushes rats indoors, and you'll avoid most of the winter noise in the ceiling.
What it costs and why
Cost depends on the type of property and the pest. A cockroach or ant treatment in a house is straightforward. Rats need stations and usually a follow-up, and a plot with several outbuildings needs more stations than a townhouse. Termite work depends on whether it's a lawn, grazing or a building. Smallholdings and businesses can have a scheduled monitoring contract with a record of each visit. You'll find a guide "from" price on this page, and our pricing for pest control explains what changes it.
Nearby, we cover Krugersdorp and pest control in Mohlakeng, and the full range of what we do is on our pest control in Johannesburg page.
We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture (Act 36), with 25 years of experience under owner Jason van Heerden, service within 24 hours and a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Phone 084 200 2700 to book, or WhatsApp us a photo of the damage.
Questions we get asked
Do you come out to plots and smallholdings around Randfontein?
Yes. We treat houses, outbuildings, feed rooms and stables on smallholdings, and can set up regular visits for plots with ongoing rodent or fly pressure.
What does rat control cost on a smallholding?
It depends on how many buildings need stations and how bad the activity is. A plot with several outbuildings costs more than a single house. Our price guide shows a starting price and we quote after a walk-around.
Is the bait safe around chickens and horses?
It's kept in lockable, tamper-resistant stations placed where livestock can't reach them. Loose bait should never be used around animals.
My lawn has gone bare in winter. Is it termites?
Very likely harvester termites, especially if you see small holes, loose soil heaps and cut grass. They're common in the dry West Rand grassland and need a specific treatment.
Why do rats get worse in winter?
Cold nights push rats from the veld and gardens into ceilings, garages and storerooms looking for warmth and food. Closing gaps before winter is the best prevention.
Do you pre-treat the soil for new houses?
Yes. We do termite pre-treatment of the soil before the slab is poured on new building work, and we issue a certificate.
How quickly can you get to Randfontein?
We offer service within 24 hours across Gauteng, including Randfontein.