On 12 June this year it was announced that Cabinet had approved a ban on the importation and sale of the pesticide terbufos. This follows the tragic death of six children in Soweto last year, after they ingested food contaminated with terbufos. This may only be the start, as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for the immediate ban of all 194 highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) currently registered in South Africa. These NGOs reject the notion of phase-out periods subject to industry discretion.

The South African government appointed multi-disciplinary task teams to investigate the deaths of the children. Terbufos is sold illegally and informally as a so-called ‘street pesticide’ for domestic use in townships and informal settlements to control rats. On 24 November 2024 president Ramaphosa said in a statement on the matter: “The unregulated use of restricted pesticides in communities has become a growing problem with devastating consequences. In many townships another chemical, aldicarb, and an organophosphate  known as galephirimi are commonly sold by street vendors and hawkers to control rat infestations. Aldicarb has been banned for use in South Africa since 2016.

“One of the reasons that people use pesticides is to deal with rat infestation. The problem of rat infestation  is due in part to poor waste management in several municipalities. Rubbish is not collected regularly and streets are not being cleaned, creating conditions for rats and other pests to thrive. Often, the poorest communities are the worst affected, and often the cheapest remedies used are highly hazardous substances  like terbufos and aldicarb.

“The fact that local government is responsible for environmental health in our communities is another challenge. However,  many municipalities do not have the capacity and resources to conduct inspections of these businesses and enforce regulations.” Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, a prominent expert in pesticides and pesticide use said that the terbufos present in local communities has been imported from other countries. Despite this, Cabinet has now decided to ban terbufos, and NGOs are lobbying parliament to ban all highly hazardous chemicals from the country.

SAPToA presentation

On 20 May this year the South African Peoples  Tribunal on AgroToxins (SAPToA) briefed the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture on their findings regarding the impact of highly hazardous chemicals in agriculture. This group conducted public hearings in Stellenbosch  and received testimonies from farm workers, trade unions, and health experts. They did not, however, invite any industry or farming groups to testify at these hearings. It appeared that the National Department of Agriculture was also not invited to the hearings.

The group claims, among other things, that there is widespread secrecy surrounding pesticide use in agriculture and that the state is colluding with industry. According to SAPToA, farm workers across generations have been exposed to harmful pesticides and that HHPs carry significant risks, including cancers, birth defects, and environmental degradation.

Broader perspective

The death of people due to exposure to pesticides is completely unacceptable, and the death of the children due to poisoning is tragic. Environmental degradation and health problems that can be linked to the use of HHPs should also concern all of us. However, it is important  that all decisions should be based on fact and science, and that a holistic approach should be taken considering  all the socio- economic, food security, and health and environmental implications, and weighing  all available options.

A vital part of sustainably producing enough safe food is the ability to protect crops from devastating pests and diseases, minimise the impact of weeds on crops, and mediate certain responses in the crops to support growth and yield. Agricultural remedies, when used responsibly and in accordance  with the label and the law, are critical tools in this pursuit.

Apart from the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock.

By Annelize Crosby, head of legal intelligence, Agbiz