Banning Terbufos could have dire implications for food security and farming sector - Minister John Steenhuisen

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen joins John Maytham to address demands for the banning of Terbufos and other highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).

Listen below.

ALSO READ: UNPOISON SA: Minister Steenhuisen has misled us about terbufos

Steenhuisen says he will not bow to pressure to ban Terbufos and other harmful pesticides.

Last week, a civil society group sent the minister a letter of demand.

In it, they said Steenhuisen held a Constitutional duty to 'exercise powers in a manner that promotes the rights contained in the Constitution, including the right to life and the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, as well as a duty to foster conduct that protects those rights'.

The minister says he has the power to outlaw such chemicals, but he must also weigh the broader consequences of doing so.

"Well, of course, we have the power to do so and the Department regularly reviews pesticides and agricultural products."

- John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture

"We look at world trends and we look at a variety of other data and we look for where there are alternatives."

- John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture

Steenhuisen says last month he ordered the banning of two agricultural products.

However, he adds that to ban any products, the government must follow due process.

"It's very easy for these organisations to stand on a soap box and say, 'Immediately ban it.'... [but there are] broader implications for the agricultural sector, not least around food security."

- John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture

Steenhuisen says time must be given to allow the agricultural sector to phase out the specific product and find alternative remedies.

"Otherwise we end up with massive crop failures and pest infestations and unable to export and unable provide for our own food security."

- John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture

ALSO READ: Less than 1g to kill, and 1 minute to purchase: A deep dive into toxic ‘street pesticide’ terbufos

Last month Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that Terbufos was the chemical found to have killed six children in Naledi, Soweto. 

The children died after experiencing severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and drowsiness. 

They had all, allegedly, consumed chips from a spaza shop in October.

ALSO READ: Terbufos poisoning: 'Closing spaza shops only treats the symptoms not the cause' – Toxicologist

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.