The illegal sale and use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) as street pesticides, particularly in poor-socioeconomic areas, is a major concern. These pesticides are typically sold in unlabelled containers, making it difficult to identify the active ingredients and assess the risks. The demand for street pesticides is driven by factors such as poverty, joblessness, and inadequate pest management strategies.
- Children are particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposure and toxicity. In Cape Town, street pesticides have been linked to child poisonings and deaths. Accidental ingestion by children is a significant risk due to the easy availability of HHPs in homes. There is a common misconception that milk can be used to treat poisoning, which might exacerbate the situation.
- Adolescent suicides using pesticides. This is linked to the easy access to toxic pesticides in lower socio-economic areas.
- SA has a high number of HHPs registered for agricultural use. While the country has banned some HHPs, including aldicarb, many are still legally sold and used in agriculture. Terbufos, for example, is still legally available and is a common replacement for aldicarb as a street pesticide.
- The current pesticide regulatory framework is outdated and inadequate. The Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act of 1947 does not adequately address issues such as the illegal sale of pesticides, obsolete stockpiles, pesticide container management, or integration across government departments.
- Under-reporting and misclassification of pesticide poisoning cases make it difficult to accurately assess the extent of the problem and implement effective interventions.
- SA is one of the largest importers of pesticides in Africa, with the majority being insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. These pesticides are used extensively in agriculture to maintain yields and ensure food security.
- The export of agricultural products, particularly to the EU, is a significant part of the SA economy. However, strict MRLs in importing countries pose a challenge for SA farmers and exporters.
- Limited access to accredited laboratories for pesticide residue analysis, particularly in the public sector, is a challenge. This is due to factors such as high staff turnover, lack of skilled technicians, inadequate funding for equipment, and the high cost of reference materials and proficiency testing.
- Genetically modified (GM) crops, particularly Bt maize, are increasingly being used in SA as an alternative to pesticides. GM crops have several disadvantages, such as the development of pest resistance and the contamination of non-GM crops through gene flow.
- The illegal sale of street pesticides constitutes a human rights violation, particularly in relation to the rights of children to be protected from hazardous environments.