SA moves to ban deadly pesticide

The department of agriculture has gazetted a prohibition notice announcing an imminent ban on the sale, acquisition, use and disposal of agricultural remedies containing Terbufos, a highly toxic pesticide linked to the deaths of six Soweto children in 2024.

- Sheree Bega

The 14 January notice replaces one published on 1 December and calls for public input until 27 February 2026. It proposes that the ban should take effect from 28 February 2026.

In June 2025, the cabinet approved a ban on Terbufos and its import into South Africa, noting that it would be accompanied by enforcement measures, while consultations were under way to identify safer alternatives to safeguard food security and support farmers.

Leslie London, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Cape Town, said it would have taken time for Terbufos to “wash out” the system even if it had been banned immediately after last year’s cabinet approval.

“That is because there are stocks available and in circulation, in whatever form. For that reason, the delay of six months for the notice to appear is very unfortunate. It means the ‘wash out’ will start only once the ban is in force,” he said.

“This means prolongation of the fatal poisoning epidemic from Terbufos. One hopes that this delay wasn't intended to allow distributors and retailers to get rid of existing stock, since that would defeat the purpose of trying to prevent deaths from Terbufos.”

London estimated that given the rate of deaths in 2023 and 2024 averaging one every second day - a delay of six months or more could mean up to another 100 deaths.

“I have heard reports that Terbufos is still available in informal markets in the Joburg CBD. If that is the case, then it is clear that there is no effective product stewardship of this extremely hazardous substance. And we continue to sit with the same problem until it is banned.”

Under section 23(4) of the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947, the minister was required to publish his intention to prohibit Terbufos for public comment before issuing a final notice, the department of agriculture told the Mail & Guardian.