Ask a Capetonian about the Southern Suburbs and they will picture oak-lined avenues, the mountain looming over Newlands and the rain that rolls in off it in winter.
Cockroach Control by suburb
We cover all 29 suburbs on our Southern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard 26 areas
Southern Suburbs 29 areas
South Peninsula 17 areas
Northern Suburbs 16 areas
Blaauwberg & West Coast 10 areas
Cape Flats 24 areas
Cockroaches in Southern Suburbs flats and kitchens
German cockroaches are mostly a problem in the Southern Suburbs' flats, student houses and food businesses, from the cafés on Main Road in Rondebosch and Claremont to the takeaways around the Wynberg taxi rank. They spread between flats through shared plumbing and breed fast in kitchens where food is left out. In houses, the bigger American cockroaches come up from old drains and sewer lines on warm nights.
We use gel baits and dusts in cracks, hinges and behind appliances rather than open spraying, and treat drains and gullies for American cockroaches. Businesses can book regular visits with reports.
This side of Table Mountain catches far more rain than the rest of the city, and Newlands is among the wettest suburbs in Cape Town. Kirstenbosch, Newlands Forest and the mountain slopes border the upper edge, while the Liesbeek River winds through Newlands and Rondebosch toward the Black River.
Worth knowing
Foggers and bug bombs feel like they should work, but cockroaches simply retreat into walls and neighbouring units until the fog settles. They often come back in bigger numbers.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Cockroaches walk through drains, rubbish and decaying matter and then over plates, counters and food, spreading bacteria that can cause food poisoning and stomach illness. Proteins in their droppings, saliva and shed skins are a well-known trigger for asthma and allergies, particularly in children. German cockroaches can build up to thousands in a single kitchen within months. For restaurants, takeaways and food factories, a single cockroach seen by a customer or inspector can lead to complaints, bad reviews or a forced closure.
Our process, step by step
Gel bait is the backbone of most cockroach treatments. It is placed in tiny spots inside hinges, cracks and appliance housings where cockroaches feed, and because they feed on each other's droppings, the bait passes through the population. We add an insect growth regulator for German cockroaches so the young cannot mature and breed. For American cockroaches, we treat floor drains, manholes and entry points with a residual product, and use dusts in wall voids and ceiling spaces. We avoid broad spraying of open surfaces because it is less effective and adds unnecessary chemicals to your home.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our cockroach control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Never leave dirty dishes or pots in the sink overnight.
- Take rubbish out every evening and keep outside bins with tight lids away from doors.
- Seal gaps where pipes and cables pass through walls under sinks and behind appliances.
- Keep floor drains covered and run water down little-used drains weekly so the traps stay full.
- Clean behind and under the stove and fridge every few months, since grease build-up there feeds a lot of cockroaches.
What affects the price
Price depends largely on the species and how big the population is, with German cockroaches in a well-established kitchen taking more time and usually a follow-up visit. The size of the home or business, the number of units involved and the amount of equipment and cupboards to treat all affect the quote. Restaurants and food businesses often go onto a regular contract, which tends to work out better value than repeated once-off treatments, and the quote is free.
American cockroaches are most active in the hot summer months, when they come up from warm drains and sewers at night. German cockroaches breed all year round because they live indoors near stoves, fridges and geysers. Heavy winter rain can flood drains and push cockroaches into homes in large numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Are the big cockroaches in my Southern Suburbs house coming from the drains?
Usually, yes. They're American cockroaches from the sewer lines. A drain treatment and full water traps stop most of them.
Can you treat a whole block of flats?
Yes, and it is the best way to deal with German cockroaches in a block. Treating one flat while the neighbours are infested usually leads to quick reinfestation.
Why am I seeing more cockroaches after the treatment?
For a few days, cockroaches affected by the bait often come out into the open before they die. This is normal, and numbers should drop clearly within one to two weeks.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For gel bait treatments, no. If residual products are used in certain areas, we will tell you how long to keep children and pets away, usually just until it has dried.
How many treatments will I need?
American cockroaches often need just one. German cockroaches usually need a second visit a few weeks later to deal with nymphs hatching from protected egg cases.
How did I get German cockroaches in a clean house?
They usually hitch a ride in grocery boxes, appliances, furniture or bags, or move in from a neighbouring unit. Cleanliness helps control them, but it does not stop them from arriving.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
