Farmers in the Kouga Municipality are assessing major crop and property damage after severe flooding hit the Gamtoos River Valley last week. The event, part of a national disaster declaration across several provinces, left more than 300 people displaced but caused no reported deaths. Recovery efforts are now underway as water levels at the Kouga Dam begin to recede.
Frederick Melville, a local farmer, described fields where pumpkins had been ready for harvest now wiped clean. Citrus orchards, his main source of income, were cut by deep dongas or buried in mud after the Gamtoos River overflowed on 7 May. Much of the protective netting was swept away, and access remains difficult due to waterlogged ground.
Phillip Dempsey of the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa said loss estimates would be premature until later this week or next. Neighbouring maize fields also suffered, with one 30-hectare plot potentially losing around 240 tonnes valued near R800,000.
Farm workers such as the Miggels family returned to homes covered in thick mud, with many belongings ruined. Over 100 people from 19 households sheltered at a local church, where aid from farmers and businesses has provided meals and support. The municipality has thanked residents for assistance while restoring roads and power.
Gamtoos Water reported the Kouga Dam at 103 percent capacity and overflowing at a reduced rate of 161,000 litres per second.
