Parliament, Tuesday, 4 February 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture received a briefing today from the Department of Agriculture and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), on the investigations regarding agricultural pesticides that contaminated food products in spaza shops as well as ongoing public calls for the complete ban of these highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs)
The Minister of Agriculture told the committee that while they acknowledged the harmfulness of the pesticides and the need to move to alternatives that were less harmful to humans and the environment, any abrupt ban on these products would have negative impact on the agricultural sector, the economy and the country’s food security.
The committee wanted to know why South Africa continues to use HHPs such as Terbufos when these products have been banned by countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the European Union.
“If it is not good for the EU and SADC and everyone feels it is not good for the soil, water and the people why do we still use it,” committee Chairperson Ms Dina Pule asked. The department proposes a review to all agricultural pesticides and research on alternatives that were less harmful to the environment before a complete ban.
The committee heard that as part of the review process and move towards a possible total ban on all HHPs, the department has categorised pesticides that will be banned from this year, and that are those that cause DNA mutation, affect fertility in humans, affect the development of unborn babies and that cause cancer.
However, the SAHRC believes the country cannot afford to wait for too long to completely ban harmful pesticides reportedly also expose farm workers to cancer and neurological diseases.
The commission also dismissed the argument that a ban on harmful pesticides will affect the economy. It argued that profits cannot be prioritised over human life.
The committee Chairperson said South Africa could learn from countries that have banned the products on how long it takes to find safer replacements and completely remove HHPs. “This is a serious matter that we cannot take lightly, we can’t wait for more deaths before taking a decision. We understand that we cannot wake up tomorrow and ban the products, but we need urgent solutions,” she emphasised.
The committee will continue to discuss the matter with other departments and more stakeholders in the sector to make an informed decision.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE AGRICULTURE, MS DINA PULE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malentsoe Magwagwa
Cell: 081 716 5824
E-mail: mmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
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