Fumigation expert weighs in following tragic death of Musgrave couple

THE fumigation and pesticide business was placed under a microscope after the tragic passing of Musgrave couple Nicholas and Matri Molver on September 28. Moses Chetty, vice president of the Pest Control Federation of South Africa (PCFSA), who inspected the Currie Road flat, said he saw several problems on the ground.

“You cannot fumigate a single unit in a block of flats using a fumigant unless the entire block is evacuated. That is a standard rule for a fumigation. We fumigate where the block is sealed, using a tent. The fumigation period is 18–24 hours – the evacuation period is a minimum of two days and two nights,” said Chetty, a qualified fumigator who has been in the pest-control business since 1982.

Fumigation differs from pest control which is targeted at removing general pests like cockroaches, rats and fish moths.
“In pest control, a pesticide spray is applied,” said Chetty.

He added that alternate measures are considered prior to fumigation.
“We look at alternatives: Can we implement removal and replacement if there is one board or panel affected by wood borer, for example? Another option is palliative treatment where we carry out spot treatment to the affected areas by drilling and injecting them with an approved wood preservative,” he explained.

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Spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality Msawakhe Mayisela added that fumigation is governed by The Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act 36 of 1947.
“Permission does not have to be given by the municipality to fumigate any private premises. However, it is incumbent upon the owner of the property and the Body Corp to ensure the company engaged to do the fumigation is compliant with the appropriate registration in terms of Act 36 of 1947 which governs the approval of pesticides that can be used, the processes for applying, and training requirements for the person applying the pesticide. Further to this, the company must comply with the municipality’s schedule trade by-laws in terms of registration,” said Mayisela.

Mayisela added, the matter is under investigation.
“At this stage, we regard this incident as a police matter, and the actual cause of death will be determined by a post-mortem examination,” said Mayisela.

“The SAPS will need to play a leading role in the investigation. Environmental Health will need to investigate the issue of chemical poisoning and report to Provincial Health. They will need to liaise with SAPS in terms of toxicological and autopsy results as part of the investigation.”

Provincial spokesperson for SAPS Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed that an inquest docket was opened at Berea SAPS station after the Currie Road couple was found dead at their place of residence.
“A postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” said Gwala.

The qualification process for fumigation professionals

Chetty noted several changes in the current qualification process for fumigation professionals.

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“In my day, we attended an academic correspondence course that included six subjects and several examinations. Once we completed academic training, we would work under a qualified pest controller who would then sign us off. We then needed to make an application to the Department of Agriculture to become a registered pest-control operator. These days, the process has become simplified with a three-day training course, followed by a six-month work period with a qualified pest-control operator who will write a letter of motivation for the student to apply to the department. What can you learn in three days?” asked Chetty.

However, the real issue, for Chetty, is fraudulent permits.

“The danger I see is that a student can sit in the three-day training without really taking in the knowledge and then find a registered pest-control operator who will accept a fee to write a motivation letter without the six-month period needed,” said Chetty.

How to verify a registered fumigation service:

Chetty called on consumers to verify pest-control companies online by visiting the South African Pest Control Association website, https://sapca.org.za or the Pest Control Federation of South Africa website, https://pcfsa.co.za.