Cape Town - After Good Party mayoral candidate Brett Herron said the City endangered animals by spraying public open spaces (where they often played) with a poisonous weed killer, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department confirmed it had sprayed public open spaces with a “selective” herbicide to kill off “broadleaf” weeds.
The department confirmed that in compliance with National Legislation regarding the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act 36 of 1947, the department sprayed parks, sport fields and public open spaces, but no grass was harmed in the process.
City media manager Luthando Tyhalibongo said this was done through a contracted tender, and was in compliance with national legislation regarding the use of herbicides.
“Strict safety measures ensure that the use of herbicides is not lethal and neither humans nor animals are harmed as herbicides are strictly regulated,” said Tyhalibongo.
In a method statement prepared by Leonard Henchem, it was revealed that Henchem Environmental Management Solutions assisted in providing non-selective systemic weed control on public road reserves in the City of Cape Town using two types of herbicide mixtures – Glyphosate herbicide and Glyphosate herbicide + Pre-emergence herbicide.
The statement showed the risks, which included the public and animals inhaling off-target drift, off-target drift blowing on to non-target plants and exposure to operators – but this was managed by only applying weed control during good weather, the use of specialised equipment to eliminate spray drift and operators wearing protective clothing.
After his pet suffered severe illness and was put to sleep a few weeks after playing in a sprayed area, Oranjezicht resident Alan Sher said Glencoe Road was sprayed about five weeks ago, which he only found out about after querying why all the grass was dying off next to the road as no signs were posted to indicate that the grass had been sprayed.
Little Mowbray resident Ingrid Biesheuvel also relayed her experience after taking her dog for a short walk in Pinelands on the oval. Later, her dog started getting muscle tremors with eyes blinking furiously and had to be taken to Panorama Animal Hospital, where he stayed for two days to recover.
Biesheuvel said the vet indicated that this was likely due to a toxin, and soon found out the area where his dog was sniffing had been sprayed.
Residents on the Pinelands 531 Facebook group also raised concerns over the spraying after some of their pets suffered peculiar symptoms.
kristin.engel@inl.co.za