It is not only rats that roam the streets of cities and informal townships, as cockroaches and other annoying insects thrive in the filth. The giant rats run rampant through sewer systems and gutters, and are found in work and home environments. The explosion of rats reflects the efficiency of civil servants around the entire country.
The rat crisis is not a new problem for South Africa. As the years roll by, the rats get bigger, more frightening and more unsightly. Rats larger than cats have been caught in several townships, and municipalities around all of South Africa have to deal not only with the rat problem, but also be wary of infections and other possible outbreaks of health risks.
There has been too little and sometimes no attention over the past twenty years to this growing problem, and the failing service deliveries have contributed to the rise of the infested rats having free reign around South Africa. The rats thrive in the filthy township conditions and feast on uncollected rubbish. The ANC government needs to attend to the cause of the rat crisis by stopping workers from striking, collecting refuse on a regular basis and maintaining the infrastructure. During his first term as president, Jacob Zuma boasted that there was a plan to alleviate unemployment and create jobs. Zuma could hire people to clean up the cities, get rid of the rats, improve service deliveries and keep his promise.
Alexandra Township, bordering the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, has battled the war against rats for years. The ANC Council tried to get rid of the plague by using barn owls after more normal ways had failed utterly. Many residents consider barn owls an evil omen, but the council members have implemented programs to educate the residents about the importance of combating the rat crisis.
During 2011 in two separate incidents, two young children were killed by rats. In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, a three-year-old child was killed in her sleep after being attacked by rats. Soweto Township south of Johannesburg experienced the wrath of rats when a young child was bitten to death by giant rats. The teenage mother of the victim said she would never forget the repulsion of seeing the child’s eyes ripped out, and bite marks over her cheeks and forehead.
Published on Guardian LV - read the entire article
Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/rat-crisis-in-south-africa-gets-attention/#7wKuic3irDhAO8gB.99
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