With just days remaining before the United States imposes a crippling 30% tariff on South African imports, the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting urgent intervention to protect rural communities whose livelihoods depend on citrus exports to America.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
The association’s appeal comes as anxiety mounts amongst citrus growers in the Western and Northern Cape, who face the prospect of watching hundreds of thousands of cartons of ready-to-ship fruit become commercially unviable when the tariff takes effect on 1 August. The two provinces export approximately 7 million cartons to the US annually.
Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the CGA, described this week as one of great anxiety for producers. “These two provinces export about 7 million cartons to the US annually,” he said, emphasising the scale of the potential economic impact.
The association has specifically requested that President Ramaphosa facilitate an extension of the current 10% US tariff beyond 1 August, which would provide breathing space for negotiations towards a mutually beneficial trade agreement. Should a general extension prove impossible, they have asked for an urgent specific extension for seasonal fresh produce, highlighting the perishable nature of citrus that cannot be stored for extended periods like other trade commodities.
The timing could hardly be worse for South African producers. Having just passed the midpoint of the 2025 export season, hundreds of thousands of cartons of citrus are sitting ready in packhouses awaiting shipment to the US over the coming weeks. The implementation of the 30% tariff means most of this fruit will likely remain unsold.
Dr Ntshabele stressed that South African citrus growers pose no threat to their US counterparts or American jobs, as the produce sustains demand when local US citrus is out of season, benefiting American consumers. “Citrus as a source of nutrition also helps to keep America healthy,” he added.
Rural Communities Face Economic Devastation
The potential consequences extend far beyond individual farms. Gerrit van der Merwe, Chairman of the CGA and a citrus grower in Citrusdal, expressed deep concern about the wider regional impact. “Being a grower in Citrusdal, I am very worried about the effect the tariffs will have on our town and the wider Cederberg municipality. Citrus forms the economic heart of the area.”
Van der Merwe warned the impact would ripple through entire communities. “Not just farmers and farm workers will feel the impact; local businesses and even the funding of social support programmes will be affected as well. The social fabric of some rural towns in the Western and Northern Cape is being threatened.
“Local growers have also indicated that a 30% tariff could not only stifle future growth, but lead to the eventual destruction of between 500 and 1000 ha that would simply become unprofitable,” Van der Merwe continued.
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Market Diversification Not a Simple Solution
The association has also addressed the frequently suggested solution of market diversification, explaining the practical limitations of this approach. In their letter to the President, they highlighted that citrus is grown for designated markets, each with their own precise market and plant health specifications, making it difficult to simply divert fruit intended for the US to alternative markets.
Furthermore, any large-scale diversion could depress prices in alternative markets through oversupply, potentially damaging the entire Southern African citrus industry. The association emphasised that industry growth depends on expanding all markets, including the US, China, India and the European Union.
The stakes are particularly high given the industry’s growth potential. The citrus sector has the capacity to create 100 000 additional jobs by 2032 through new plantings, but this expansion requires access to all major markets.
Dr Ntshabele painted a stark picture of the immediate consequences should negotiations fail. “Should we not be able to secure a favourable trade deal, or the concession for fresh produce, local job losses before the next season will be a certainty.”
Whilst the CGA acknowledges some progress in US trade negotiations, they believe more direct and active contact with the United States is necessary before the 1 August deadline. With the tariff implementation just days away, the industry awaits urgent presidential intervention to protect one of South Africa’s key agricultural export sectors and the rural communities that depend on it.
