Design for development

[Farmworkers]: Deadly pesticides

"“We do not even get training. After the pesticide is sprayed, you must go into that vineyard,” she explained. “I’m especially referring to Dormex. It’s the most dangerous pesticide we are dealing with...”

“It doesn’t matter what it does to the workers, as long as that pesticide is getting into the vineyard in time for the blooming and everything — that is their main goal and focus.”

Abrahams says she first brought the pesticide issue to the bosses ages ago. She said that farmers did not listen, and if they brought it up, they were likely to be fired and labelled as a troublemaker. Abrahams said that if you were chased away from a job, people could not simply apply at another farm close by, as the farmers communicated with one another about “troublemakers”."

Read more here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-03-31-in-the-thorns-farmworkers-in-de-doorns-exposed-to-pesticides-fear-speaking-out/.

Meanwhile, the Women on Farms Project continues to call on the government to ban 67 Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) already banned in Europe. You can add your name to the petition here: https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/end-the-double-standards-ban-deadly-pesticides-already-banned-in-europe.

✊🏾