Thedepartment of agriculturehas gazetted a prohibition notice announcing an imminent ban on the sale, acquisition, use and disposal of agricultural remedies containingTerbufos, ahighly toxic pesticide linked to the deaths of six Soweto childrenin 2024. The14 January noticereplaces onepublished on 1 Decemberand calls for public input until 27 February 2026. It proposes that the ban should take effect from 28 February 2026.
In June 2025,cabinet approved a ban on Terbufos– also known through its street name as Halephirimi – and its import into South Africa, noting that it would be accompanied by enforcement measures, while consultations were underway to identify safer alternatives to safeguard food security and support farmers. Leslie London, a professor in theSchool of Public Healthat the University of Cape Town, said it would have taken time for Terbufos to “wash out” of 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 only start once the ban is in force,” he said. “This means prolongation of the fatal poisoning epidemic from Terbufos.
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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 is required to publish his intention to prohibit Terbufos for public comment before issuing a final notice, the department of agriculture told the Mail & Guardian. “Timelines will depend on responses received,” it said. Manufacturers and registration holders had confirmed they had already ceased importation and production of products containing Terbufos, the department said, noting that it had not received further reports of deaths or injuries since June 2025.
It said it was working with stakeholders, the ministerial advisory council on food-borne illnesses and authorities addressing illicit trade to ensure compliance. London said claims by the pesticide industry that Terbufos was entering informal marketsthrough supply chains from other African countrieswere not supported by evidence.
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