The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture was today briefed by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), and the South African People’s Tribunal on AgroToxins (SAPToA) on investigations into the use of harmful pesticides in the agricultural sector.
Today’s briefing was a follow-up to a meeting that took place on 4 February, in which the commission updated the committee on the ongoing investigation into the agricultural pesticides that contaminated food products in spaza shops and ongoing public calls for the complete ban of these highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).
Commissioner Philile Ntuli of the SAHRC told the committee that there is a need for immediate action to protect farm workers and their families from the harmful effects of the pesticides used in the agricultural sector. She said the commission remained concerned about the use of HHPs such as Terbufos and others in the agricultural sector and called on Parliament and the government to act.
The committee heard that the tribunal held public hearings in March in the Stellebosch area to hear testimonies from victims of pesticide poisoning on farms and factories, as well as from trade unions, researchers and experts on the types of pesticides used by big corporations and their impact on the health of mainly poor and marginalised communities.
The Chairperson of the tribunal, former United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Judge Navi Pillay, told the committee that from the public hearing it appeared that the government is violating international obligations on the use of pesticides. “It appeared that government was conniving with corporations bent on profiteering at the expense of health and the general secrecy and withholding of information relating to the pesticides they were using, from the public,” Judge Pillay said.
Though SAPToA and the SAHRC said their report is not yet completed and they have not yet made findings and recommendations, Judge Pillay believes that Parliament has a special role to play in looking at the implementation of existing regulations and whether government and corporations are complying with laws and international obligations on the use of pesticides in the agricultural sector.
According to Judge Pillay, there are no international laws controlling the use of HHPs, however the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation are helping countries manage HHPs and raising awareness. “There are about 192 registered HHPs in South Africa and only 16 have partial bans or restrictions due to their risk to human health and the environment. The Department of Agriculture must begin banning the use of all toxic pesticides starting with HHPs,” Judge Pillay proposed.
She said it is disappointing that South Africa is failing to comply with several of the international obligations it is party to and added that almost all countries in the Southern African Development Community have banned HHPs except for South Africa.
From the public hearings, the tribunal also discovered that the users of pesticides on the farms are given no information about the risk of the pesticides and, in some instances, are provided with no water to wash after using the chemicals.
“Some HHPs have been linked to cancer, fertility problems and other serious health problems. Civil society is calling for a total ban of Terbufos and other HHPs,” said Judge Pillay.
Another member of the tribunal, Dr Sophia Kisting-Cairncross, urged Parliament to legislate against the use of pesticides.
While committee members acknowledged the seriousness of the subject, some labelled the presentation as emotional and warned that a complete ban might lead to other serious problems. Committee member Mr Willem Aucamp blamed the problems on people who misuse these products. “What we need are measures to use them correctly with the right protection and also see to it that there is better education for everybody that uses and handles pesticides. A sudden ban will lead to food production problems,” he said.
However, this view received strong opposition from other committee members who argued that profits cannot be allowed to trump human rights and the health of the nation. Committee member Mr Andile Mngxitama called for the strengthening of legislation to regulate the use of pesticides, with measures to punish transgressors.
Commissioner Ntuli dismissed suggestions that the pesticides responsible for children’s deaths after they consumed products purchased from foreign-owned spaza shops were illegal imports from outside the country’s borders. She said this story perpetuates xenophobia and there is no conclusive evidence as yet on the source of the pesticides.
Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ms Dina Pule the committee is awaiting updates from the Department of Agriculture following a commitment to consult other stakeholders on a possible ban of Terbufos and other HHPs. “We cannot close our ears from the cries of vulnerable people. We will continue to engage the department and other stakeholder for further research on alternatives before any decision is taken on the possibility of a total ban,” said Ms Pule.
The Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Mooketsa Ramosodi, noted the need for broader consultation on the use of pesticides to assist South Africa to take the right decision and consider all their international obligations.
SAPToA is a coalition of affected communities, civil society groups, trade unions and academics dedicated to exposing the dangers of pesticides in South Africa and supporting those impacted by agricultural toxins.
Sakhile Mokoena
21 May 2025
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