The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has called on its members to assist government efforts to identify and assess road damage caused by recent floods, particularly in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
CGA chief executive Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele made the appeal in his latest newsletter on Friday, urging growers to supply accurate and timely information on affected road sections to support recovery and rehabilitation planning.
As floodwaters continue to subside in the hardest-hit regions, government task teams are preparing to begin formal assessments of road and bridge conditions. These assessments are expected to play a critical role in restoring transport routes that are essential to agricultural operations and the movement of citrus produce.
“The CGA is engaging with stakeholders to develop a web-based GIS mapping model to document, monitor, and track the condition of the road network, as well as rehabilitation and repair activities,” Ntshabele said.
He explained that while work continues toward the development of a comprehensive GIS system, the association has already launched an interim online GIS platform using Google Maps Live. This platform allows real-time input from growers and industry stakeholders, ensuring that damage information is captured as accurately as possible.
Ntshabele has called on CGA members to contribute to the mapping initiative by submitting key details via email. These include location information such as GPS coordinates or road names with nearby reference points, along with photographs where possible and a brief description of the road condition.
“All collected data will be shared with relevant government disaster management committees, and we will actively track the rehabilitation of critical road networks ahead of the upcoming citrus season,” said Ntshabele.
The CGA’s initiative is expected to support faster decision-making, improved coordination with authorities, and more effective prioritisation of repairs, helping to safeguard the citrus industry’s logistics network during a crucial export period.