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On Saturday, 17 August 2024, Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, handed over R14,98 million to the Citrusdal Water Users Association.
Dr Ruben Richards, executive mayor of Citrusdal, and Boffie Strydom, executive mayor of the West Coast District Municipality, accompanied minister Meyer. They expressed their gratitude to the Western Cape Government (WCG) for addressing the plight of producers affected by severe flood damage to agriculture in the area.
The allocated funds will mitigate future flood damage to the Upper Oliphants River catchment area. Minister Meyer highlighted that the floods in 2023 and 2024 significantly affected farmland’s ecological infrastructure.
Minister Meyer said: “The flood resulted in the agricultural sector requiring significant repairs, including removing debris and sediment build-up over approximately 60 kilometres along the main stem of the Olifants River and its apocopated tributary. We must protect the water security of the region, particularly the agricultural industries and livelihoods that depend on it.”
Read more about the Western Cape’s budget for agriculture here.
Climate change anticipated
Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, the new head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), emphasised the importance of collaboration with citrus producers, businesses, municipalities and water user associations. This partnership is crucial to dealing with more frequent extreme weather patterns due to climate change.
Dr Sebopetsa said: “Our focus is also to care for the environment and the local communities affected by the recent floods. The funding is in line with the value of responsiveness of the WCG.”
Extensive repairs needed
Stefan Theron from the Citrusdal Waters Users Association expressed gratitude for this support. “We have been through a rough time over the last couple of months. It is significant to note the impact the floods and the damage to the roads have on people’s lives and their access to food and cash.”
“The R14,98 million donation will enable us to reinstate drainage along the river, remove sediment and debris islands that can block or divert river flow and reinstate access along the river where roads, cultivated fields, orchards, and infrastructure have washed away.”
Minister Meyer said: “While we need a permanent solution to the road infrastructure at the entrance/exit to Citrusdal, it is also essential that, as the agricultural sector, we adapt to climate change to repair our agricultural infrastructure in a way that is resilient and able to withstand more unpredictable weather.” – Western Cape Department of Agriculture
