Lebubu farmers who use the D4 road near Mashau have started repairing potholes themselves after losing hope that Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) will intervene soon.
They began patching the road on 7 February, raising funds to buy sand, cement and hire machinery. Recent heavy rains have worsened the deteriorating surface, leaving sections riddled with potholes.
Motorists say poor maintenance is increasing transport costs and delaying produce deliveries. The D4 is a key link between farms, markets and processing facilities, and its condition has become a major obstacle.
On 16 November last year, RAL introduced contractors appointed to rehabilitate the D3715 from Muduluni to Tshikhodobo, the R522 between Louis Trichardt and Vivo, and the D4 linking the N1 to Elim. The meeting, held at the Makhado Local Municipality council chamber, was convened by RAL board chairperson Mr Moses Tseli and attended by municipal officials, traditional leaders and political representatives.
However, the contractor tasked with upgrading the D4 between Malamulele and Elim has not started construction, despite earlier assurances that the project was on track.
The road has been earmarked for upgrading for some time. In September 2023, communities in Vuwani and Malamulele urged RAL to expedite rehabilitation. Puttie Trading Enterprise began work in January 2023 on a R20 million project expected to be completed by 30 November 2023.
Farmer Mr Wessel Truter said the road was poorly constructed, with a thin tar layer that deteriorated quickly, and that a lack of maintenance had compounded the damage.
“The dangerous road conditions have caused tragic accidents, including a fatal crash involving one of our workers,” he said. “Instead of sitting with our arms folded, the community came up with a turnaround strategy. The farmers are under pressure as RAL is failing in its duties.”
Truter said farmers would continue engaging RAL but wanted to show they could act themselves. He added that transport companies were charging more because the damaged road caused excessive wear and tear on vehicles.
In response, RAL said other stakeholders, including farmers, might be working on sections outside the appointed contractor’s scope. The agency said the current contract covers about 3.4 km of the D4, valued at R12 million, from the end of the recycled portion on the Vuwani side to about one kilometre beyond the Levubu intersection. Any work outside that stretch may not be linked to the contract.