Pest Control and Exterminators in Cape Town
Rats in the roof, roaches in the kitchen, borer in the floorboards.
We are a family-run pest control company based in Brackenfell, and we have been sorting out Cape Town's pests for more than ten years, from Atlantis to Gordon's Bay.
- Minimum 3-month guaranteeIf it comes back, so do we
- Written reportAfter every treatment
- Beetle certificatesFor Western Cape property transfers
- Registered and insuredQualified pest controllers
Identify the pest, then treat it properly
Every pest lives, feeds and breeds differently, so every job starts with knowing exactly what you have.
Rat Control
Rattus rattus / R. norvegicusRats in Cape Town come in two kinds: the ones that burrow and the ones that climb, and you treat them differently. We…
Cockroach Control
Blattella germanicaCockroaches in Cape Town come in two main kinds: small German cockroaches that breed inside kitchens and appliances…
Bed Bug Control
Cimex lectulariusBed bug control starts with knowing for certain that you have them, how they got in and how far they have spread…
Ant Control
FormicidaeAnts in Cape Town are mostly a colony problem, not a kitchen problem: the trail you see is a small part of a nest that…
Wood Borer Treatment
Hylotrupes bajulusWood borers are beetles whose larvae spend years eating through timber before they chew their way out, leaving neat…
Fumigation
Sealed-space gas treatmentFumigation means sealing a space, a load of timber or a batch of goods and filling it with a gas that reaches pests…
Spider Control
Badumna longinquaMost spiders in Cape Town homes are harmless and even useful, but a few, like the violin spider and the button spider…
Flea Control
Ctenocephalides felisFleas are the most common reason Cape Town families call us about bites, and the adults you see on the dog are only a…
More pests and services
- Rodent Control
- Mouse Control
- Squirrel Control
- Insect Control
- Crawling Insect Control
- Cricket Control
- Fishmoth Control
- Scorpion Control
- Biting Insect Control
- Bed Bug Removal
- Bird Mite Control
- Mosquito Control
- Flying Insect Control
- Fly Control
- Wasp Control
- Wasp Nest Removal
- Stored Product Pest Control
- Weevil Control
- Moth Control
- Pest Control
- Beetle Certificate of Compliance
- Pest Control Service
- Insect Exterminators
- Contract Pest Control Services
- Thatch Treatment
- Bacteria Control
- Disinfectant Fogging Treatment
- COVID-19 Disinfection
- Bird Proofing
A small company that answers its own phone
Cape Town Pest Control is run by Sean Kennell and the VerminX team out of Brackenfell. When you call 021 012 5825 you get someone who can tell you, there and then, whether that brown beetle in your cupboard is a weevil or a borer, and whether you actually need us.
Most jobs are booked within about 48 hours. That stretches a little in late summer, when every cockroach and flea in the Peninsula seems to wake up at once. If it can't wait, we do after-hours and weekend visits on request, and the 24-hour line is there for advice and bookings.
Every treatment comes with a written report and a minimum 3-month guarantee. If the problem comes back inside that window, so do we.
- Call or send a photo
A person answers. We identify the pest from your photo and tell you honestly whether you need us.
- Inspection and quote
We find where the pests live, feed and get in, then quote before any work starts.
- Least-toxic treatment
Gel baits, colony baits, tamper-resistant stations and targeted residuals only where they are needed.
- Report and guarantee
A written report with proofing advice, and a minimum 3-month guarantee.
Least toxic first, and no lingering smell
Spraying everything in sight is the easy way to do pest control, and it is usually the wrong one. We start by finding out where the pests are living, what they are eating and how they are getting in. Then we use the gentlest product that will actually work: gel baits for cockroaches, colony baits for ants, tamper-resistant stations for rats, and targeted residuals only where they are needed.
- Odourless treatments in most homes, so you are not airing the house for days
- Safe placement around children, pets and food areas
- Proofing advice so the problem does not simply return
- Contract service for restaurants, shops, schools and body corporates
If a photo shows you don't need us, we will tell you.
Homes, rentals and businesses
Most of our calls come from homeowners, but a fair share come from people who don't own the building they are standing in. Tenants, landlords, body corporates and business owners each need something slightly different from a pest controller, so here is how it usually works.
Homeowners
You want the problem gone and you don't want it back next season. We find where the pests are coming from, treat the source rather than the symptom, and leave you with a written report and a short list of fixes, like a gap under the back door or a downpipe without mesh, that stop a repeat visit.
Tenants and landlords
Cockroaches and bed bugs move between flats, so treating one unit while the neighbours carry on rarely holds. If you rent, send us a photo first and we will tell you whether it is something to raise with your landlord or managing agent. Landlords and body corporates can book a whole block at once, which is almost always cheaper than chasing the same infestation from door to door.
Restaurants, shops and offices
Food businesses need more than a once-off spray. We offer a free pest report and contract quote for kitchens, bars, hotels and food stores, with records you can show an inspector. For offices, schools and creches we work around your hours, including after hours and weekends on request.
Buying or selling a property
Western Cape property transfers often need a beetle certificate. We do the wood borer inspection and issue the certificate of compliance, and if we find active beetle we will explain the treatment options in plain language before anything is booked.
Pest control in your suburb
From our base in Brackenfell we cover the whole of Cape Town and the Boland: the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard, the Southern and Northern Suburbs, the South Peninsula, the Cape Flats, the West Coast and the Helderberg. Pick your suburb for advice that fits where you live.
City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard26 areas
- Bantry Bay
- Bo-Kaap
- Camps Bay
- Clifton
- De Waterkant
- Foreshore
- Fresnaye
- Gardens
- Green Point
- Higgovale
- Hout Bay
- Imizamo Yethu
- Llandudno
- Malay Quarter
- Mouille Point
- Oranjezicht
- Schotsche Kloof
- Sea Point
- Tamboerskloof
- Three Anchor Bay
- University Estate
- Upper Woodstock
- Vredehoek
- Walmer Estate
- Woodstock
- Zonnebloem
Southern Suburbs29 areas
- Bergvliet
- Bishopscourt
- Claremont
- Constantia
- Diep River
- Harfield Village
- Heathfield
- Kenilworth
- Kenwyn
- Kirstenhof
- Kreupelbosch
- Lansdowne
- Meadowridge
- Mowbray
- Ndabeni
- Newlands
- Observatory
- Ottery
- Pinelands
- Plumstead
- Retreat
- Rondebosch
- Rondebosch East
- Rosebank
- Salt River
- Southfield
- Steenberg
- Tokai
- Wynberg
South Peninsula17 areas
Northern Suburbs16 areas
- Bellville
- Brackenfell
- Brooklyn
- Durbanville
- Epping
- Goodwood
- Kensington
- Kraaifontein
- Kuils River
- Loevenstein
- Maitland
- Monte Vista
- Panorama
- Parow
- Plattekloof
- Thornton
Blaauwberg & West Coast10 areas
Cape Flats24 areas
- Athlone
- Belhar
- Bishop Lavis
- Bonteheuwel
- Crawford
- Delft
- Electric City
- Elsies River
- Grassy Park
- Gugulethu
- Hanover Park
- Kalksteenfontein
- Khayelitsha
- Langa
- Lavender Hill
- Lotus River
- Manenberg
- Mitchells Plain
- Nyanga
- Pelican Park
- Philippi
- Samora Machel
- Strandfontein
- Valhalla Park
Before you book
Still unsure? Send a photo to 074 697 2254 on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it is.
How quickly can you come out?
Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, depending on the season. After-hours and weekend visits can be arranged, and the 24-hour line is there for urgent advice and bookings.
Are your treatments safe for children and pets?
Yes, when the instructions are followed. We use the least-toxic option that will work, place baits in tamper-resistant stations, and tell you exactly how long to keep children and pets out of treated areas, which for most gel and bait treatments is not at all.
Do you give free quotes?
Yes. Send a photo on WhatsApp to 074 697 2254 or call 021 012 5825, and we will identify the pest and give you a quote.
What if the pests come back?
All our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. If the same pest returns in that period, we come back and deal with it.
Do you do beetle certificates for property transfers?
Yes. We inspect for wood-destroying beetles and issue the Certificate of Compliance that conveyancers need when a house is sold in the Western Cape.
Which areas do you cover?
All of Cape Town and the Boland, from Atlantis and Melkbosstrand to Simon's Town, Khayelitsha and Gordon's Bay. We are based in Brackenfell.
Field notes
24-Hour Pest Control in Cape Town: What to Do in a Pest Emergency
Pest emergency at night or on a weekend? Our 24-hour line gives advice and books call-outs in Cape Town.…
Ant Infestations Around the Home: When to Worry and What Works
Ants in the kitchen, sinking paving or pets avoiding their bowls? Learn why spraying fails and how baits…
Eco-Friendly Pest Control: Lower Risk, Better Targeting
Eco-friendly pest control means targeted, least-toxic treatment, not blanket spraying. Learn how surveys…
German Cockroaches: Why They Are So Hard to Get Rid Of
German cockroaches resist most shop sprays. Learn how to spot them, why DIY fails and how an integrated…
Disinfectant Fogging for Your Home and Workplace: An Honest Guide
How ULV disinfectant fogging works, what it can and cannot do, how to prepare and when it is worth booking…
Rat Infestations in Cape Town and How to Deal With Them
Rat infestations are rising in Cape Town. Learn which rats you have, how housekeeping, storage and proofing…
Got a pest problem? Talk to a person, not a call centre.
Most jobs booked within about 48 hours. After-hours and weekends on request.