Cape Town's Pied Piper of Hamelin is set to go hi-tech.

Discussions are under way and paper work is being processed to rid the city of troublesome rodents ahead of 2010 in an "eco-friendly, humane" way.

An electro-magnetic force, emitted in the city streets which would be attached to the city's sub-district boxes, is expected to disorientate the rodents, rendering them more susceptible to being caught.

That's the aim of a pilot project, due to be rolled out in January, which plans to capture and then put down rodents, with the assistance of the SPCA as the lead agency in monitoring euthanasia methods.

The infamous city rats, the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), can grow to a weight of one kilogram, and have been known to tunnel through and damage tarred pavements in the CBD.

Sebastian Seelig, from Global Solutions Plug-in Pest Free, creators of the sonar devices, said the electro-magnetic force would be transmitted underground within a 3.8m radius.

The eco-friendly electronic devices were SABS-approved and had already been used by private companies since May.

Seelig said no pesticides were involved and the CCID had offered its approval since bait had proved to be ineffective.

The new device affects only rodents and cockroaches, leaving birds, cats and dogs safe.

Dr Ivan Bromfield, executive director for the city's health department, confirmed that various roleplayers from the city, Men on the Side of the Road, the Department of Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the CCID had been involved in discussions on the possible use of the "alternative technology".

Areas of specific concern included the Station Deck, Grand Parade and lower St George's Mall.