The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) is assessing the significant impact of severe weather conditions that affected the province between 10 and 13 May 2026.
A series of intense cold fronts resulted in widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to farming communities across key agricultural regions. The agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit, with extensive damage reported in areas such as the Hex River Valley, Grabouw/Elgin, and the Ceres and Worcester regions. Flooding has devastated vineyards, orchards, and cropland, with some farmers reporting the complete loss of harvests, including apple crops in Grabouw.
In addition to crop losses, farms have sustained serious infrastructure damage. Irrigation systems, access roads, and bridges have been compromised, while power disruptions have affected irrigation, storage, and packhouse operations. In several instances, farms have been cut off entirely due to flooded rivers and damaged transport routes.
The knock-on effects are expected to impact the province’s agricultural economy, particularly fruit and wine export supply chains. Delays in harvesting and transport are likely to reduce yields, affect export quality, and increase financial losses across the sector.
To support response efforts, the WCDoA has deployed its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Damage Assessment App to improve the collection of real-time data from affected farming areas. This digital tool is playing a critical role in strengthening situational awareness and coordinating recovery efforts, despite challenges such as power outages, poor connectivity, and limited access to some rural communities.
The Department is currently consolidating preliminary damage reports gathered through the app, extension officers, and industry stakeholders. As conditions stabilise and access improves, teams will conduct on-site verification visits to assess crop losses, infrastructure damage and broader impacts on livelihoods, with priority given to high-value agricultural regions.
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr. Ivan Meyer, said that the Western Cape Department of Agriculture met with the agricultural sector on Monday afternoon, 18 May 2026, together with the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, to assess road and infrastructure damage and to prioritize critical agricultural regions.
Minister Meyer: “In several affected areas, contractors have already been appointed to begin repairing critical road infrastructure. Mopping-up operations, including the clearing of roads and ongoing humanitarian support, will continue as part of the coordinated provincial response.”
The Provincial Government will meet on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, to consider classifying the event as a provincial disaster. Following this, the Western Cape Government will approach the National Disaster Management Centre to seek a formal declaration, thereby unlocking additional national resources to support recovery efforts.
“The scale of this event presents a complex and evolving challenge for the agricultural sector,” said Dr Ivan Meyer. “Our immediate priority is to ensure accurate damage assessment and to support farmers through a coordinated, data-driven recovery process.”
“I want to thank the many farmers, organised agriculture, thousands of volunteers, and law enforcement agencies for their support during this recent disaster in the Western Cape. The WCDoA remains committed to working closely with farmers, industry bodies and government partners to mitigate the impacts of the disaster and to support the recovery of affected agricultural communities,” the Minister concluded.
Media inquiries:
Daniel Johnson
Media Liaison Officer to Provincial Minister, Dr Ivan Meyer
Email: Daniel.Johnson@westerncape.gov.za
Cell: 079 990 4231
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