Grape industry reels from Cape flood damage as recovery bill mounts
· The South African
South Africa’s table grape industry is counting the costs of severe storms and flooding that swept across parts of the Western Cape earlier this month, with some growers facing losses of up to R1.2 million per hectare.
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The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) has appealed to provincial and national authorities for disaster relief and recovery support after widespread damage to vineyards and farming infrastructure.
The recent series of cold fronts brought heavy rainfall, flooding and strong winds to several parts of the province. While the 2025/26 table grape season has already ended, growers are now grappling with damage that could affect future harvests.
The Berg River, Hex River and Olifants River regions were among the hardest hit.
Damage to vineyards and infrastructure
According to SATI, damaged and washed-away roads have left some farms difficult to access, hampering recovery efforts.
Feedback from growers revealed flooded vineyards, collapsed netting and poles, damaged trellising systems and irrigation infrastructure.
“Some farms reported that more than a third of their plantings had been affected,” said SATI chief executive officer Mecia Petersen.
The Hex River Valley has been particularly hard hit. The region has now experienced severe flooding for the third time in five years.
“In some cases, vines that were replanted in August 2025 to replace vineyards damaged during the 2024 floods have now been washed away again,” Petersen said.
She noted that establishing a single hectare of table grapes can cost up to R1.2 million, highlighting the scale of the financial losses facing affected producers.
Calls for relief as grape growers rebuild
The flooding struck during a critical post-harvest period when growers normally undertake vineyard management work for the next production season.
“These post-harvest activities are crucial in determining the size, quality, and productivity of next season’s table grape crop,” Petersen noted.
SATI warned that delays in restoring operations could have longer-term consequences for productivity, sustainability and employment.
“Government disaster relief processes must be accelerated to address these extenuating circumstances,” Petersen added.
The industry body has urged affected growers to complete damage assessment surveys administered by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture as authorities assess the extent of the losses.
“Without urgent intervention, the impact of these storms could extend far beyond the immediate damage already suffered by producers and rural communities,” Petersen warned.