SA's outdated pesticide laws are

People, in particular farmworkers and children in urban areas, are exposed to the dangers of hazardous chemicals

- Sheree Bega

The measure of a society's commitment to human rights "lies not in what we promise, but in what we deliver, particularly to the most vulnerable in our society".

This is according to Philile Ntuli of the South African Human Rights Commission at a colloquium on pesticide reform.

"We can have the best Constitution and constitutional framework and laws [in] the world, but if these are not accompanied by policies and regulations that are enforceable and protective to the most vulnerable, they are meaningless," she said.

South Africans, especially the farming community, "rely on us to ensure that the food that they eat, the water that they drink and the land that they inherit is safe".