Limpopo farmers count losses as R572 road deteriorates

Commercial farmers in Maasstroom outside All-Days in Limpopo say they are incurring major financial losses due to the increasingly deteriorating conditions of the R572 road between Swartwater and All-Days towns. They say the 85 km stretch of the 320 km long road has not been properly maintained for 16 years. The road is a key commercial route for farmers to transport their products to markets locally and to neighbouring countries. Farmer Willem van der Merwe says they have to grade and re-gravel the road regularly at their own expense. “I can say it would take maybe four to five days to fix it again to a drivable condition, and then it would last maybe, depending on the traffic, two weeks. During the rainy season it’s even worse, and also when it’s graded, you will see more abnormal vehicles driving on this road, and that makes it even worse because this road is not even in good condition for normal cars, not even to talk about abnormal vehicles. It costs a lot; I mean, if you take into consideration what the price of diesel is now and our machine, for example, uses about 150 to 170 litres a day.” Commercial farmers in Maastroom, outside All-Days in Limpopo, say the deteriorating condition of the R572 road between Swartwater and All-Days is causing significant financial losses. They say the 85-kilometre stretch has not been properly maintained for 16 years. The road is a key commercial route used to transport agricultural produce to local markets and neighbouring countries. Cred: Vutivi Maluleke — SABC News (@SABCNews) October 24, 2026 Another farmer, Alex Mabelebele, says that due to the condition of the road, he spends more on maintaining his vehicles than growing his farming business. “I’m a new farmer here in Alldays; my farm is just like seven to eight kilometres away. I’m expected to participate in the mainstream economy, but due to the road conditions, the maintenance on my vehicles is just too much, so I’m not even making money. For the years that I have had my farm, this road has cost me an arm and a leg.” – Reporting by Vutivi Maluleke VIDEO | Poor road condition hammers Maasstroom farmers’ pockets: