Thousands of South African farm workers are calling on the European Union (EU) to stop sending harmful pesticides to their country. Many of these chemicals are already banned in Europe but are still being made and shipped to poorer countries. The workers say these toxic substances are making them sick and even costing lives.
One of the most powerful stories came from Dina Ndelini, a former farm worker who spent years in vineyards near Cape Town. She collapsed after decades of working around the pesticide Dormex, a chemical banned in the EU since 2009. Doctors confirmed her illness was due to long-term exposure to the toxic spray. Today, she has lost her health, job, and home.
“I say to Europe: enough is enough. Stop sending us your poisons,” Dina said.
Her plea came during the People’s Tribunal on Agrotoxins, held in March in Stellenbosch. This public event gave farm workers a chance to tell their stories to expert judges and human rights observers. Though the tribunal does not have legal power, it brought much-needed attention to a growing crisis.
Chemicals Banned in Europe, Still Used in Africa
Dormex is just one of many dangerous pesticides still in use in South Africa. The African Centre for Biodiversity reports that 192 hazardous chemicals are legally used on farms. Of these, 57 are banned in the EU. Some of these pesticides are linked to cancer, nerve damage, and lung problems.
European companies continue to produce and sell these toxic products to countries like South Africa. Shockingly, many of these same chemicals are later found in food imported back into Europe, such as grapes and wine. This means that while European farm workers are protected, others in poorer countries are left to suffer.
“If these pesticides aren’t safe for Europeans, why should they be for us?” one worker asked during the tribunal.
Women Suffer the Most
Most farm workers in South Africa are poor, temporary workers. Many are women who have little job security and face unsafe conditions every day. They live near sprayed fields, often without running water or toilets. Many cannot afford proper safety gear and protect themselves using scarves or plastic bags.
Women are also more at risk because of their biology. Exposure to these chemicals can harm their reproductive health. They also face more social pressure to stay quiet about their working conditions.
Kara MacKay from the Women on Farms Project said, “Each day the EU exports these banned chemicals, it poisons our people.” She called the trade “colonial and racist,” saying Europe profits while others suffer.
Experts Slam Europe’s “Double Standards”
The EU has taken some steps to limit the use of these chemicals. It has plans to ban food imports treated with pesticides that are not allowed in Europe. There are also talks about banning the export of such pesticides altogether.
But the chemical industry is pushing back. Groups like CropLife International argue that countries like South Africa need certain pesticides to fight local pests and diseases. However, experts and human rights groups reject this claim.
UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana called it a “blatant double standard.” He stressed that “the human body is the same everywhere” and that all workers deserve equal protection. He also warned that weaker institutions in poorer countries are unable to regulate these chemicals properly.
Corruption and pressure from large corporations make it hard to create fair laws. South Africa does have rules on pesticide use, but they are rarely enforced.
The Need for Global Change
Dr. Andrea Rother, a health expert from the University of Cape Town, said the current system is broken. She described it as a “tickbox exercise” that fails to protect workers. According to her, a European export ban could make a real difference.
“Alternatives exist. A ban could push us toward sustainable farming,” she said.
She also believes that giving workers better education and tools would help them demand safer conditions.
Other countries have faced similar problems. In India, a wave of farmer suicides was linked to toxic pesticides and poor regulations. In Brazil, pesticide use has also been tied to major health problems in rural areas. These global patterns show that the pesticide trade is a worldwide issue that needs urgent attention.
Hopes for Justice
The judges at the People’s Tribunal will release their findings in the coming months. Though their decision is not legally binding, many hope it will put pressure on European lawmakers to act.
Dina Ndelini and others like her want justice, not just for themselves but for future generations.
“No one should suffer like we have,” she said. “We only ask for the right to work and live without being poisoned.”
The message from the tribunal is clear: Europe must stop exporting its banned pesticides. Farm workers in South Africa and beyond deserve the same safety and dignity as those in Europe.