Western Cape Agriculture Minister Ivan Meyer has called for greater private-sector involvement at the Port of Cape Town, citing the impact of logistics on agricultural exports, farm margins, and employment.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly general manager Gary Wium at Nampo Cape 2026, Meyer called for the full privatisation of the Cape Town port terminal. Transnet is currently seeking a private operator to design, finance, refurbish, and operate the port’s multipurpose terminal under a 25-year concession. The process is separate from the Cape Town Container Terminal and does not involve privatisation of the entire port.
© Port of Cape Town
Meyer said port performance has already affected fruit exporters. Last season, an estimated 55 000 tons of table grapes had to be rerouted through Eastern Cape ports, resulting in additional transport and logistics costs for growers.
According to Meyer, South Africa’s agricultural exports increased by about 10% from 2024 to 2025, from US$13,7 billion to US$15,1 billion.
He also addressed recovery from flooding earlier this year, which damaged agricultural land, roads, bridges, orchards, and vineyards across the Western Cape. Provincial assessments put overall damage at approximately US$518 million, with damage to agricultural infrastructure exceeding US$224 million. More than 230 roads were affected.
According to Meyer, more than 80% of the affected roads and bridges have since been attended to or reopened, although permanent repairs will take longer.
The province is also planning a climate technology symposium focused on farm-level measures for managing drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, and changing rainfall patterns. Meyer said guidance should take individual farms, cropping systems, and local risk profiles into account.
“We must prepare ourselves for climate change,” he said, adding that the Western Cape’s Mediterranean climate requires mitigation and adaptation measures suited to Mediterranean growing conditions.
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