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Thousands of South African farm workers are raising their voices to demand something simple: safety. They want Europe to stop sending harmful chemicals that are banned for use inside the European Union but still shipped to countries like South Africa. These pesticides, many marked as dangerous to health, are making people sick and even causing long-term damage.

For people like Dina Ndelini, this fight is personal. Dina worked in vineyards near Cape Town for more than 40 years. One day, she started having trouble breathing. After visiting a doctor, the cause became clear—exposure to a pesticide called Dormex. Though Dormex is banned in the EU since 2009 because it contains a toxic substance known as cyanamide, it is still widely used in South Africa. Worse, the same European companies that make and export these banned chemicals also import food from South Africa to sell in European stores.

People Share Their Pain in Public Hearing

In March, a People’s Tribunal was held in Stellenbosch, a wine-growing region in South Africa. Workers came forward to speak about what these chemicals have done to their bodies. They told stories of breathing problems, vision loss, and even cancer. One woman said she developed ovarian cancer after years of spraying crops. Another said she had trouble seeing clearly and had lung damage.

“If this chemical is too dangerous for people in Europe, why is it being used on us?” asked one woman, who chose not to share her name out of fear for her job.

These stories are not rare. Many farm workers, especially women, are exposed to harmful pesticides every day. Groups like the African Centre for Biodiversity have found that South Africa still allows 192 highly hazardous pesticides to be used. Out of these, 57 are already banned in the EU.

Women face even more danger. Their bodies are often more sensitive to toxic chemicals. They are also more vulnerable because of limited job options and poor working conditions. According to Women on Farms Project (WFP), a local non-profit group, most female workers are not given any proper gear to protect themselves. Some wrap scarves around their faces to try and shield themselves from the spray. Many are not even given access to clean water or toilets during long shifts in the fields.

A System of Double Standards

The European Union has laws that protect its own citizens from exposure to toxic chemicals. But it does not stop companies in Europe from selling those same chemicals to other countries. This has caused strong criticism from health experts and human rights groups.

UN expert Marcos Orellana was blunt in his opinion. “The human body is the same everywhere,” he said. “Europe is applying a double standard that hurts the most vulnerable people.” He believes Europe’s actions allow companies to take advantage of weaker safety laws in poorer countries.

Europe has suggested it may apply tighter rules on how much pesticide residue is allowed on food it imports. But so far, progress has been slow. Industry groups in Europe argue that different climates and crops need different chemicals. But this has not convinced health experts.

Dr. Andrea Rother from the University of Cape Town said the international treaties that deal with pesticide trade are too weak and slow to make real change. “We can’t keep waiting. People are dying,” she said. She added that if the EU stopped exporting banned pesticides, it would push safer farming practices in South Africa.

Kara MacKay from WFP agreed. “Each time one of these chemicals is shipped to us, the EU becomes part of our daily poisoning,” she said.

The Tribunal’s Next Steps

The People’s Tribunal in Stellenbosch gathered hours of stories and expert opinions. Now, an expert panel is reviewing all the testimony. Their findings and legal suggestions are expected to be published in the coming months. Farm workers hope this will add pressure on both the South African government and the EU to take action.

Farm worker unions and advocacy groups are also calling for better enforcement of local laws. South Africa does have rules to manage pesticide use, but they are not well enforced. Workers often do not even know what chemicals they are handling. They are rarely told about the risks.

A Global Call for Change

This is not just a South African issue. The trade of banned pesticides from rich countries to poorer ones is a global problem. It reflects a system where profit is sometimes placed above people’s health.

Groups like Women on Farms and the African Centre for Biodiversity are pushing for global rules that stop the export of banned chemicals. They believe countries that have already decided a pesticide is too dangerous should not be allowed to ship it anywhere else.

For workers like Dina Ndelini, this fight is about more than laws and rules. It is about staying alive and protecting the health of future generations. “I gave my life to those vineyards,” she said. “But they didn’t protect mine.”