Through you Chairperson, thank you hon Minister for your response, although it is a pity that we have not had sight of any independent investigations in this regard. However, it beholds the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries although it is an agricultural matter to also conduct some investigations on water streams that may be polluted. I think Thor chemical was a classical example where communities from that area complained about the chemicals that were going into the stream.
As you know, hon Minister, as government we have not been able to provide all the citizens of our country with safe drinking water and they still use these streams. Children still use these streams in hot summer months where they go and swim. So, I think we may have a responsibility to look at some pilot investigations in some of these areas. It is a common cause, hon Minister, as you say that there is no conclusive research about the fact that some of these pollutants cause illnesses, but I think it is common knowledge that many of our illnesses are caused by the air we breathe and the food we eat.
Nowadays you find producers of food even injecting chicken to make them four times the size so that they can make more profit. I see the hon Deputy President is smiling, he knows that. So, they are force feeding these things. This is how they force-feed even our plants with chemicals that can cause harm and can exacerbate the risk of certain illnesses. So, what I would like to know, hon Minister, is if you would consider some pilot studies in areas where there is huge agricultural industry to see whether or not water streams and even the air may be polluted as a result of the use of glyphosate and other weed killers and chemicals? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, FORESTRY AND
FISHERIES: Chairperson, allow me to discuss it with my counterpart and in due course we can come back to you and advise what decision we have taken. Thank you.