Glyphosate has been banned in many parts of the world and the World Health Organisation has recently declared it a grade 2 carcinogenic. This means ‘probably causes cancer.’
This month it seems police are again going to use helicopters to spray this on the dagga fields in the former Transkei, despite widespread opposition.
Eastern Cape police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci told Saturday Dispatch yesterday spraying would take place in the remote “hills and valleys” along the Mzintshana River near Port St. Johns that were not easily accessible by road.
According to Soci, police would again use Roundup – a chemical that is “freely available at any hardware store” – to spray remote dagga plantations.
Using glyphosate violates constitutional rights
The decision has been slammed by eco and dagga activists who claim the glyphosate in the poison seriously impacts flora, fauna and people. They say it has been banned all over the world.
In a letter to police last week from Ricky Stone of Boqwana Burns law firm, the Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (TAWI), the Amapondo Children’s Project (ACP) and Fields of Green for All (FGFA) claimed using glyphosate violated constitutional human rights.
They said since government started spraying over 20 years ago, extensive research had been done on the negative health and environmental impacts that had even recently resulted in the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring glyphosate a grade two carcinogenic that “probably causes cancer”. They also question the environmental impact in a sensitive biodiversity hotspot.
FGFA activist Jules Stobbs yesterday said police had replied to the letter and “told us all to f**k off, basically.”
Community trying to stop spraying for 20 years
The letter to police and other government departments said communities and farmers in the affected area had asked for help to prevent spraying and that they would get a court interdict if necessary and that 40000 “concerned citizens” supported their cause on social media.
They described spraying as “a crime against humanity” that violated environmental and other legislation.
Last year, when Saturday Dispatch broke the story, the newspaper was told of pilots spraying fields while people stood in them waving flags, and of livestock also being doused.
Although in contravention of manufacturer label warnings stating the area must be cleared first and people entering soon afterwards wear protective clothing, police said they couldn’t alert growers before as they would remove the crop.
The letter called for a suspension of spraying until an independent review was done and asked that they be provided with evidence of historical compliance to existing legislation.
How to get rid of a ‘difficult plague?’
According to Soci, dagga and other illegal drugs were a “difficult plague” to control worldwide. She said drug abuse lead to other more serious crimes like rape, murder and robbery.
A statement said human life would not be in danger during spraying, only dagga plants would be affected and that glyphosate was “not carcinogenic nor toxic to humans or animals”.
“Spraying has proven to be safe, cost-effective and a much larger area can be covered in a very short period of time. SAPS remain satisfied that our objective to keep this drug off the streets, is being adequately achieved through the process.”
Adapted from a story by David McGreggor. Source: Dispatch Live
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- Police helicopters destroy dagga plantations and communities
- SAPS ignore legal letter to stop Eastern Cape cannabis spraying
Fiona Morris says
Stupid to say it only affects dagga! It’s POISON!
Ian Falcon Bentley says
Absolute insanity. Do they not realise that marijuana is poised to be a product that will generate untold wealth in the very near future? In the USA many investment advisers are telling their clients to buy shares in companies that focus on marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. Here we choose instead to destroy it, and the environment where it is cultivated. Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden egg. It says a lot about the state of the country’s leadership … across all the major political parties and in all key government departments. Truly mind-boggling!
Allie Doyle says
What a shame that ignorance still has such a powerful seat 🙁 I firmly believe that they [the police] only have power and resources to hit soft targets!! Go catch REAL criminals! That is the ONLY way you will EVER see any change, in this beautiful country, we call home!!!
Willem Els says
Marijuana, or dagga, like any stupor inducing drug, slows the mind and inhibits the performance of the user. Collectively speaking this has a wide impact on performance in many areas affecting our health, productivity and moral standards. Say no to drugs. That includes alcohol.
Green Times is not promoting the use of marijuana, or any other drugs. We publish anything that negatively affects the environment, wildlife and people. We oppose the spraying of glyphosates and toxic chemicals. And this is but the tip of the iceberg.
Phil Botha says
cops telling us to f**k off? shoot the fuckers out of the sky…hope they crash before they disperse their poison