MAASSTROOM, Limpopo — The severe R572 road deterioration is causing massive financial strain for Maasstroom farmers in Limpopo, who report that a critical 85-kilometer stretch of the route has lacked proper maintenance for over a decade and a half.
The R572 is a vital commercial artery connecting the N1 and N11 national highways, Platjan, and the Groblersbrug Border Post between South Africa and Botswana. However, agricultural producers state that severe degradation along this key transport corridor is crippling their ability to move produce to local and international markets.
Local commercial farmers, acting as spokespersons for the affected agricultural community, revealed that they have been lobbying the government since 2010 without success. Despite multiple meetings with Members of the Executive Council (MECs) regarding the infrastructure, they say they have only received empty promises. With 2026 being an election year, the farming representatives noted that the conditions remain largely unchanged and undrivable, leading to frequent accidents and unsustainable operational costs.
In a bid to keep the supply chain moving, the farming community has taken to grading and regraveling the route at their own expense. According to the farmers, restoring the road to a basic drivable standard takes four to five days and only holds up for about two weeks under normal traffic, or even less during the rainy season.
This self-funded maintenance is highly expensive. The grading machinery consumes between 150 and 170 liters of diesel daily, adding a massive overhead to their operations. Furthermore, the situation is exacerbated by abnormal and oversized vehicles navigating the fragile route. The farmers warn that the road is barely passable for standard passenger cars, let alone heavy abnormal loads, which rapidly undo the community’s grading efforts.
An emerging commercial farmer in the area highlighted the devastating economic impact of the crisis. Despite being located just seven to eight kilometers from the main transport hub, the poor infrastructure means vehicle maintenance costs have completely overshadowed business growth. The emerging farmer noted that they have not turned a profit since establishing the operation, with repair bills consuming all revenue and preventing meaningful participation in the mainstream economy.
When approached for comment regarding the state of the R572 and the farmers’ grievances, a spokesperson for the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) declined to provide a statement.
