Commercial farmers in the Maastroom area, outside All-Days in Limpopo, say the deteriorating condition of the R572 between Swartwater and All-Days is inflicting mounting financial and operational pressures. They report that the 85-kilometre stretch has not been properly maintained for 16 years and that repeated vehicle damage, lost time and rising transport costs are eroding already tight margins.
Everyday transport becomes a cost centre
Farmers describe deep potholes and sections where the tar surface has broken away entirely. Vehicles are forced to slow to a crawl, drive off the road to avoid damage, or accept repeated tyre and suspension repairs. Several transport operators have added surcharges for trips along the route, and others have refused to collect produce at all, the farmers say.
The road links commercial farms to local markets and to routes used for export to neighbouring countries. When the surface is poor, inputs such as seed and fertiliser take longer to arrive and harvested produce reaches markets late, increasing the risk of spoilage and price penalties.
Chain reaction across the supply line
Producers told reporters that the road’s degradation affects the full supply chain. Logistics and mining vehicles also use the route, and travellers heading toward the Mapungubwe region and the N1 corridor are regularly delayed. Farmers say these delays translate into higher fuel consumption and more frequent maintenance, both of which are rising operating costs that cannot simply be passed on to buyers.
Local economy and cross-border trade at risk
Because the R572 forms part of a regional route connecting areas near Lephalale with All-Days and onward to Musina, its condition carries implications beyond the immediate farming community. Producers who depend on regional and cross-border markets say the road’s state undermines their ability to compete. Transport firms adjusting tariffs or refusing the route force farmers to seek more expensive alternatives, reducing margins and threatening the viability of smaller operations.
Farmers’ list of impacts
- Increased vehicle maintenance costs — tyres, suspension and related repairs.
- Higher fuel consumption due to slower speeds and detours.
- Damage to produce when loads shift on uneven surfaces.
- Refusal or surcharges by transport companies, raising logistics costs.
- Delays in input deliveries and market deliveries, increasing spoilage risk.
What residents and producers want
Farmers in the area are calling for urgent maintenance, resurfacing and regular inspections to prevent further deterioration. They argue that a rehabilitated R572 would reduce operating costs, protect investment in agricultural production and preserve links to regional markets.
| Aspect | Reported effect |
|---|---|
| Road length | 85 kilometres (Swartwater–All-Days stretch) |
| Period of neglect | 16 years |
| Primary users | Commercial farms, logistics vehicles, mining trucks, travellers |
Local government and maintenance responsibilities
The R572 is a regional route whose upkeep is shared across provincial and municipal responsibilities. Farmers pointed to a lack of sustained maintenance and said previous calls for intervention have gone unanswered. They emphasised that piecemeal repairs are insufficient; what is needed is a funded rehabilitation programme, followed by regular maintenance to prevent a repeat of the current cycle.
Broader picture
The situation on the R572 highlights a broader challenge across rural road networks in Limpopo: when primary routes fall into disrepair the costs are not limited to transport budgets. Food security, employment in agriculture, the competitiveness of small and medium producers, and cross-border trade can all be affected. For communities that depend on farming for income, a failing road can mean lost orders, wasted harvests and fewer jobs.
Farmers say they will continue to press local authorities to set out a time-bound plan for rehabilitation. In the meantime they are adapting by consolidating loads, scheduling runs to avoid the worst stretches and paying higher transport charges — all measures that chip away at farm profitability.
Reporting from the Maastroom–All-Days area shows a need for urgent, coordinated maintenance planning that recognises the R572’s economic role. Without it, producers warn, the road will continue to be a drain on livelihoods across this part of Limpopo.
