Civil society groups and unions have condemned the deaths of six Soweto children who ingested Terbufos, a highly toxic pesticide, citing a severe “regulatory failure.” The coalition, which includes the African Centre for Biodiversity and Women on Farms Project, emphasized that Terbufos, banned in the EU but legally used in South Africa, remains “inadequately regulated,” contributing to fatal incidents.
The tragedy, involving children aged 6 to 9, is not isolated, they argued, highlighting the “daily reality” of families in unserviced communities resorting to toxic pest solutions. The coalition has long advocated banning such hazardous pesticides, yet government inaction has persisted despite a recent “damning report” from UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana, exposing regulatory flaws and the widespread availability of “street pesticides” in informal markets.
According to the coalition, Terbufos, an organophosphate with neurotoxic effects, is often repackaged and sold for domestic pest control. A recent study from a Cape Town mortuary found Terbufos responsible for over half of child poisoning deaths linked to pesticides. 
Haidee Swanby of the South Africa People’s Tribunal on Agrotoxins expressed frustration over the government’s “defensive and callous” response to Orellana’s report, adding, “No one should have access to Terbufos… It’s the most toxic poison there is, and it should only be available to registered people and highly regulated.”
The coalition’s demands include cohesive government action, transparent regulation, and alignment with global standards to protect vulnerable communities from hazardous pesticides.
