The Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has welcomed rains in the country's north that give some respite from the challenging drought, but the situation is "not as rosy" in the south. 

In a weekly newsletter sent Friday, CGA CEO Justin Chadwick highlighted while Tropical Cyclone Dineo had lashed Mozambique causing widespread destruction, as it entered South Africa it was downgraded and resulted in widespread rain in the country's north.

"Dams that had been almost empty were replenished – and the sight of the Vaal dam opening its sluices was most welcoming," Chadwick said.

"For the citrus industry those watching the Tzaneen dam (providing water to the Letsitele region) saw it rise to almost 52% - a rise of 10% in a week and well over the 31% recorded this time last year.

"The Blyderivierspoort dam providing Hoedspruit has been overflowing for some time, as is the Witbank dam for Senwes."

Elsewhere, the Nzhelele dam which provides water for the Shipise region has risen from 34% to 46% in a week, and the Loskop dam which also supplies Senwes has gone from 63% to 81%.

"Rainfall figures for last week [late February] show Tzaneen received 133 mm while Letsitele got 126 mm," Chadwick said.

"Further south the situation is not as rosy. In Patensie dams continue to fall – now at 35% full. The Sundays River is dependent on the Gariep dam which has risen from 70% to 92% (due to rainfall in the Free State), but the Sundays River region itself has not seen any rain for some time.

"The Western Cape is extremely dry – and hopeful for early winter rains. The Brandvlei dam is at 23% and the Clanwilliam dam 34%."

He said the variety focus groups would get together this week for the estimate of the 2017 crop, and the water situation will play a big role in those deliberations.

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