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Limpopo farmers say poor R572 road is costing them money

Published

Commercial farmers in Maasstroom, outside All-Days, say an 85 km stretch of the R572 between Swartwater and All-Days has not been properly maintained for 16 years. They say they pay to grade and re-gravel it themselves.

Farmer Willem van der Merwe said the road needs four to five days of grading to become drivable again. He said it stays drivable for about two weeks, depending on traffic. His machine uses 150 to 170 litres of diesel a day.

Alex Mabelebele, a farmer in Alldays, said the state of the road makes vehicle maintenance too costly, so he is not making money. He said: "For the years that I have had my farm, this road has cost me an arm and a leg."

The R572 is 320 km long in total.

Key facts

Who
Willem van der Merwe (farmer); Alex Mabelebele (farmer in Alldays)
What
Farmers in Maasstroom say the deteriorating 85 km stretch of the R572 road between Swartwater and All-Days, which they say has not been properly maintained for 16 years, is causing major losses. They say they grade and re-gravel the road at their own expense.
When
25 October 2026
Where
Maasstroom, All-Days, Limpopo
Status
Reported

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