South Africa Bans Toxic Pesticide Terbufos Linked to Child Deaths

South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has officially banned the sale, use, and disposal of terbufos, a highly toxic pesticide linked to the deaths of six children in Soweto and hundreds of other poisoning cases. The prohibition, published in the Government Gazette under the 1947 Agricultural Remedies Act, targets a chemical classified by the World Health Organization as its most dangerous category (Class 1a). Investigations suggest victims may have consumed food contaminated by terbufos granules illegally sold in informal spaza shops for pest control. An advisory committee report highlighted that terbufos contributes to an estimated 175 deaths annually in South Africa, with children comprising 35% of fatalities. While civil society groups like UnPoison and the South African People’s Tribunal on Agrotoxins welcomed the decision, they criticized the significant delay between cabinet approval and implementation. Activists emphasize that effective enforcement, stockpile disposal, and penalties for illegal street sales are crucial to prevent further tragedies, warning that without strict monitoring, other hazardous chemicals could replace terbufos in vulnerable communities.