Pest control in Sharpeville, Vereeniging

Pest control in Sharpeville often comes back to older houses: termites in roof timbers and door frames, rats in ceilings, cockroaches in kitchens, mosquitoes in summer and bed bugs in bedrooms. Combat Pest Control serves Sharpeville from Johannesburg. We inspect the house, roof and yard, confirm exactly what's there, and treat it properly, with a guarantee on the work.

Sharpeville's homes

Sharpeville is one of the Vaal's oldest townships, next to Vereeniging in Emfuleni, and a place known across the country for its history. Many of its houses are the original township homes, built decades ago and extended by the families who live in them, with newer rooms, garages and backyard units added over time. The area shares the Vaal's climate of hot, stormy summers and cold winters, and the Vaal River and its wetlands aren't far away.

Older roofs, timber that has been in place for generations, and extensions joined onto original walls are where many of Sharpeville's pest problems start.

What we hear most from Sharpeville families

"There's mud on the wall and the door frame is soft."

That's subterranean termites. They live in the soil and build mud tubes to reach timber, then eat it from the inside, so a door frame, window frame or roof beam can look fine until you press it. In older homes they also attack wooden cupboards and skirting boards. We treat the soil around the house to stop the colony and treat active points inside, and termite work carries a 5-year guarantee with a treatment certificate. Read more about it on our termite control page.

"The yard has gone bare and there are little holes everywhere."

Harvester termites. They cut grass and carry it underground in the dry months. They won't damage the house, but they will strip a yard. They're treated in the ground where they forage.

"Something runs in the ceiling at night."

Usually rats, sometimes mice. They get in where the roof meets the walls, especially at the join between an old roof and a newer extension. We place lockable bait stations outside, trap in the roof and show you the gaps.

"The cockroaches won't go away."

German cockroaches hide in kitchen cupboards, behind stoves and inside appliances, and spraying just moves them around. Gel bait placed where they shelter gets to the whole colony. The big American cockroaches come from drains, and we treat the drains and outside areas for those.

"We're being bitten at night."

In summer, mosquitoes are often the cause, breeding in standing water in yards and in the wetter ground of the Vaal. Empty buckets, tyres and containers weekly, clear gutters and use screens. We can treat the shaded spots where adult mosquitoes rest; see our mosquito control page. If the bites are in lines and you find small dark spots on the mattress, it's bed bugs, which need a proper bed and furniture treatment and a follow-up.

How a visit works

We look at the house inside and out, the roof where we can get in, the yard, any backyard rooms and the drains. We explain what we've found and what the treatment will involve before we start. You don't need to leave the house for normal treatments; children and pets should keep off treated surfaces until they're dry.

Backyard rooms and shared yards

Many Sharpeville properties have family members or tenants in rooms at the back. Cockroaches, fleas and bed bugs move easily between those rooms and the main house, so we treat the whole property in one visit rather than one room at a time. If the neighbours have the same problem, treating both yards on the same day stops pests simply moving over the wall and back again.

A common mistake

Replacing a termite-eaten door frame or roof beam without treating the termites. The new timber looks great, and within a year or two the colony, still living in the soil, is eating it too. Treat first, then repair.

A Sharpeville tip

When you build an extension, ask for the soil to be treated for termites before the floor is cast. It's the cheapest and most effective moment to protect the new rooms, and we can do the pre-treatment and give you a certificate.

What it costs and why

The cost depends on the pest and the house. Cockroaches in a kitchen are a small job. Rodents in the ceiling mean bait stations, roof work and normally a second visit. Bed bugs depend on the number of beds and rooms. Termite soil treatment costs the most, depending on the size of the house and how much timber is affected, and pre-treatment for an extension is quoted on the floor area. This page shows a guide "from" price, and our pest control prices page explains more.

We also work in Vereeniging and pest control in Boipatong, and all our services are on our Johannesburg pest control page.

Combat Pest Control is owned and operated by Jason van Heerden, who has 25 years in the trade. We are SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture (Act 36 of 1947), offer service within 24 hours and give a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the mud tubes or the damage.