The Cape Flats is the wide, flat sandy plain that stretches from the mountain towards False Bay, home to a huge share of Cape Town's people. Pest problems differ from suburb to suburb, but the common thread is sandy ground, a high water table in winter and a lot of homes built close together.
Spider Control by suburb
We cover all 24 suburbs on our Cape Flats route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- AthloneSpider Control
- BelharSpider Control
- Bishop LavisSpider Control
- BonteheuwelSpider Control
- CrawfordSpider Control
- DelftSpider Control
- Electric CitySpider Control
- Elsies RiverSpider Control
- Grassy ParkSpider Control
- GugulethuSpider Control
- Hanover ParkSpider Control
- KalksteenfonteinSpider Control
- KhayelitshaSpider Control
- LangaSpider Control
- Lavender HillSpider Control
- Lotus RiverSpider Control
- ManenbergSpider Control
- Mitchells PlainSpider Control
- NyangaSpider Control
- Pelican ParkSpider Control
- PhilippiSpider Control
- Samora MachelSpider Control
- StrandfonteinSpider Control
- Valhalla ParkSpider Control
Crawling insects around Cape Flats
German cockroaches breed behind fridges and in the shelving of spaza shops, then spread along shared walls. In the sandy yards you also get crickets, harvester ants and now and then a thick-tailed scorpion under bricks or zinc sheeting.
Housing ranges from older council semis and flat blocks to RDP homes, backyard rooms and informal structures. Where walls and roofs are shared, rodents and cockroaches move between households quickly, and informal structures with gaps at the base are hard to seal. Waste collection and stormwater that cannot cope after heavy rain make the job harder, which is why community-wide approaches work best.
From the technician
The first thing a technician checks is not the spider but what it is eating. Bright security lights, damp areas with lots of small insects, or an ant trail along the wall will keep drawing spiders in no matter how often you spray.
Tell-tale signs
- Cast skins and dead insects collect along skirting boards and in the backs of cupboards.
- Untidy, tangled webs show up under outdoor chairs, in the meter box or around the pool pump.
- Outside lights draw a cloud of moths and midges each night with webs built right around them.
- Egg sacs, often round and papery or spiky in the case of the brown button spider, are stuck to brickwork or furniture.
What happens when we come out
We start by identifying the species, because a rain spider on the wall and a nest of button spiders by the jungle gym call for very different responses. Webs and egg sacs are removed by hand or vacuum first, which takes out a surprising amount of the next generation. We then apply a residual spray or a fine insecticide dust into the places spiders actually live: roof voids, behind fitted units, wall cavities, garages, eaves and window reveals, keeping it away from where children and pets play. Where insects are drawing the spiders in, we treat or advise on that food source too, because spiders follow their prey. Finally we point out gaps around doors, vents and pipes that need sealing.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our spider control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Fit fine mesh to vents and seal the gaps around pipes and under doors with sealant or brush strips.
- Shake out shoes, gardening gloves and clothes that have been left on the floor or in the garage before you put them on.
- Keep stacked wood, bricks and old pots away from the house walls, because these are prime spots for button spiders.
- Pull beds slightly away from the wall and keep bedding off the floor to reduce night-time bites from sac spiders.
- Brush down webs regularly and vacuum the corners and the backs of cupboards, which gets rid of egg sacs before they hatch.
What affects the price
The cost depends mainly on the size of the property and how many outbuildings, garages and roof spaces need treatment. A house with a heavy insect problem feeding the spiders takes more work than one with a few webs in the corners. We give a free quote after a quick look or a WhatsApp photo, and contract clients get spiders covered as part of their routine visits.
Spider activity climbs from late spring and peaks in the hot, dry months from January to March, which is exactly when rain spiders come indoors and people start to notice them. Button spiders are most visible in summer around gardens and pools. In the wet winter months many spiders retreat into roof spaces and garages, so a treatment then catches them where they shelter.
Frequently asked questions
Will the treatment harm my pets?
We treat cracks, voids and roof spaces rather than open floors, and we ask that pets are kept out until surfaces are dry. We will explain any specific precautions on the day.
Do you come out to Cape Flats for spider control?
Yes. Cape Flats is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Athlone. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Does winter flooding push rats into homes on the Cape Flats?
Yes. When the water table rises and drains back up, rats are flushed out of their burrows and look for dry shelter in houses and outbuildings, so baiting and sealing gaps in April or May, before the heavy rain, pays off.
How long does a spider treatment last?
A residual treatment keeps working for a good while, and our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. New spiders can still wander in from the garden, which is why sealing gaps and fixing outdoor lighting matters.
Is the rain spider in my house dangerous?
Not really. Rain spiders are big and fast but rarely bite, and the bite is painful rather than dangerous; the kindest option is to catch it under a container and put it outside.
Why are mosquitoes so bad near the vleis on the Cape Flats?
Because Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei and the canals that feed them hold still, shallow water where mosquitoes breed easily. Fitting mesh to bedroom windows and tipping out any standing water in the yard each week makes the biggest difference at home.
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