Daily Sun (April 10 2014) - RESIDENTS are calling it "the big black". They are reacting to the unexplained invasion of ikasi by thousands of crickets with anger, fear and frustration. THE "BIG BLACK" IS SO BAD IT HAS SENT MANY RESIDENTS FLEEING FROM THEIR HOMES!
The plague of crickets arrived in Mbewana Street, KTC on Saturday afternoon but increased cricket activity in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Mitchells Plain has also been reported.
While some of the residents said they feared the insects and others said they were just irritated, everybody agrees it is the sound that is driving them crazy.
KTC residents Mavis Mbova said she and her family of five haven't slept in their house for four days.
"It is impossible to sleep! These crickets give me the creeps! I had to send one of my grandchildren to Gugulethu because she was so scared," said Mavis.
"There is nothing worse than the feeling of a cricket crawling over your body when you are lying in bed trying to sleep."
Lulama Maqhubela said some people burn imphepho to try and chase the insects away and others simply throw them on the fire.
"We get rid of some of them that way. We can't just do nothing while crickets crawl all over us."
Daily Sun spoke to two sangomas who agreed the crickets were harmless.
Sangoma Mkhulu Xabanisa said: "These crickets are like soil and are everywhere, so they are harmless. We would have been suspicious if they were just at one house."
But Xabanisa said even though the crickets were harmless, they could still be used to do bad things.
"Any insects can be used to make muthi," he said.
City of Cape Town Health mayoral committee member Lungiswa James said they know about the crickets and have firsthand experience of them at Matthew Goniwe Clinic in Khayelitsha.
James said the City had consulted university scientists who said the increase is experienced in many parts of the world.
"It is probably because of the weather in the Cape. We had a very mild winter and a slightly wet summer.
"This favours the hatching of cricket eggs and has resulted in a population boom," she said.
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