Pest control in Ratanda usually means cockroaches in kitchens, rats around yards and rubbish, bed bugs in bedrooms, and fleas and flies in summer. Combat Pest Control serves Ratanda from Johannesburg. We inspect the house and the yard, including backyard rooms, and use baits, traps and targeted treatments that deal with the source instead of just the pests you can see.
About Ratanda
Ratanda is the township next to Heidelberg in the Lesedi area of south-eastern Gauteng, with the Suikerbosrand hills not far away. It's a mix of older township houses, newer government-built homes, extensions and backyard rooms, with plenty of family businesses: spaza shops, hair salons, food stalls and taverns. Like the rest of the south-eastern Highveld, it has hot, stormy summers and cold, dry winters.
Homes and rooms here are often close together and share yards, walls and drains. That's good for community, and it's also good for pests, which simply walk across from next door. A treatment works best when it covers the whole yard, and better still when neighbours treat at the same time.
The pests we see most
Cockroaches
German cockroaches are the small brown ones that live in kitchens, behind fridges and stoves, and inside the motors of kettles, microwaves and fridges. They breed very fast in warm weather. The bigger American cockroaches come from drains and sewers and walk in at night. We use gel baits in the places German cockroaches hide, which they eat and carry back to the others, and treat drains and outside areas for the large ones.
Rats
Rats live where there's rubbish, open drains, building rubble and long grass, and they come into houses for food and warmth, especially in winter. Signs are droppings, chewed food packets and bags, holes along the bottom of walls and noise in the ceiling. We place lockable bait stations that children and pets can't open, and show you which holes to close. Our page on rat control in Gauteng homes explains the method.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs travel in luggage, second-hand beds and couches, and from room to room in shared yards. They hide in mattress seams, bed bases, headboards and plug points, and bite at night, often leaving itchy marks in a line. They don't mean a home is dirty. Getting rid of them takes a careful treatment of the beds, furniture and cracks, and usually a follow-up visit to catch the ones that hatch afterwards. See how we treat bed bugs for what to expect.
Fleas and flies
Fleas build up where dogs and cats sleep, in the yard and on floors. Flies breed in rubbish and in summer heat. For fleas, we treat the yard and the house while you treat the animals. For flies, keeping bins closed and rubbish collected makes most of the difference.
Spaza shops and food sellers
A spaza shop or food stall attracts rats, mice and cockroaches because there's food and packaging. We can treat the shop and storeroom, place lockable stations, and come back on a regular schedule so the problem doesn't build up again. Keeping stock off the floor, on shelves or pallets, makes it far harder for rodents to settle.
How a visit works
We look at the kitchen, bedrooms, ceiling where we can get in, the yard, drains and any backyard rooms, and ask a few questions: when did it start, where do you see them, has anything new come into the house. Then we treat, explain what we've done, and tell you what to do next. You don't have to move out for a normal treatment, but children and pets should keep away from treated areas until they are dry. If a second visit is needed, as it usually is with bed bugs, we arrange it before we go.
What people often get wrong
Using strong poisons bought on the street. Some of these products are illegal, very dangerous to children and pets, and not meant for use inside a home. They also don't solve the problem, because the cockroaches or rats keep coming from the same places. Registered products used correctly, by someone trained to use them, are much safer and work better.
A tip for Ratanda homes
If you have bed bugs, don't throw the mattress out into the yard or give it away. That just moves them to the next room or the next house. Keep the bed where it is, vacuum the seams, wash the bedding hot, and let us treat it.
What it costs and why
The price depends on what we're treating and how many rooms are involved. Cockroaches in one house is a small job. Bed bugs cost more because each bed and couch must be treated carefully and a follow-up is usually needed. Rats need stations and a return visit. A house with several backyard rooms is priced on all the rooms together, and neighbours treating at the same time often get a better result. There's a guide "from" price on this page, and our pest control prices page explains more.
We also work in pest control in Heidelberg next door and right across Gauteng; our services are all on the Johannesburg pest control page.
Combat Pest Control has been in the business for 25 years under its owner, Jason van Heerden. We are SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture, and we offer service within 24 hours with a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the insect you've found.
Questions we get asked
Do you come to Ratanda?
Yes. We serve Ratanda and Heidelberg from Johannesburg, with service within 24 hours.
How much does it cost to get rid of cockroaches?
For one house, cockroaches are one of the smaller jobs. The price goes up with more rooms or a bad infestation. Our price guide shows a starting price, and we confirm it once we've seen the house.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Look for itchy bites in a line, small dark spots on the mattress seams, and tiny brown insects hiding in the bed base or headboard. WhatsApp us a photo and we'll tell you.
Is the treatment safe for my children?
Yes, when used correctly. Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they are dry, and rat bait stays inside locked boxes that children can't open.
Can you treat my backyard rooms at the same time?
Yes, and you should. Cockroaches and bed bugs move between rooms, so treating the whole yard at once gives a far better result.
Why do the cockroaches come back after I spray?
Spray only kills the ones it touches. The rest hide in appliances and cracks, and more walk in from next door. Gel baits that they carry back to their hiding places work much better.
What should I do before you come?
Clear the cupboards under the sink and around the stove, put food away, and don't spray anything for a few days. For bed bugs, leave the bed where it is.