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[FILE] Hundreds of people in the Langkloof and Little Karoo regions of the Western Cape remain completely cut off due to inaccessible roads. This, after a Level 8 storm that brought torrential rain, flooding, and gale-force winds, cutting off roads and damaging critical infrastructure.
The agriculture sector has emerged as one of the hardest hit following severe storms that swept across the Western Cape last week.
The storms left 11 people dead and caused widespread damage across the province.
Severe flooding, uprooted trees and strong winds damaged farming areas, with provincial authorities warning that losses could run into billions of rand.
The latest disaster adds to existing pressures faced by farmers, including drought, rising fuel prices, disease outbreaks and export challenges.
Western Cape Agriculture Minister Ivan Meyer says the storms will place additional strain on the sector.
“So, it is the drought, it is the foot and mouth disease of our farmers. It is the war in the Middle East and now impacting on our export. It’s the diesel price, it’s the fires, it’s the price of wheat and now the impact of floods,” adds Meyer.
“So, you can understand the devastating impact that this will have on our agricultural sector.”
Provincial authorities say assessments are continuing to determine the full extent of the damage to farms, infrastructure and agricultural production.
The storms also damaged roads and transport routes used by farming communities and exporters across the province.
Impact of floods on agriculture and port operations in the Western Cape
