SA Canegrowers Calls for Government Action to Protect Farmers and the Sugar Industry
Farmers Magazine | 25.02.2026 19:50
The South African Canegrowers Association (SA Canegrowers) has urgently called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene and stabilize the country’s sugarcane sector, which supports roughly 25 000 growers and six major sugar milling companies. The immediate threat comes from the potential provisional liquidation of sugar milling giant Tongaat Hulett, a situation that could have devastating consequences for farmers, workers, and rural communities. SA Canegrowers has written to multiple government departments, including Finance, Trade, Industry and Competition, Agriculture, and Public Works and Infrastructure, requesting coordinated action to preserve operations and protect livelihoods. The association emphasizes that without immediate intervention, farmers face reduced income, job losses, and disruption to the sugarcane value chain. This appeal underlines the importance of the sugarcane sector for food security, rural employment, and regional economic stability.
