Collapsed gravel roads, flooded crossings and stalled construction projects are crippling farming operations across large parts of the Free State, with key agricultural routes in the Xhariep, Thabo Mofutsanyana and Fezile Dabi districts increasingly becoming inaccessible.
Rural residents, transport operators and farmers say years of neglected maintenance and incomplete infrastructure projects are now threatening livelihoods, disrupting harvest deliveries and isolating communities from essential services.
The DA has now escalated pressure on the provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport, submitting formal requests for urgent intervention while intensifying oversight in the Free State Legislature. The party says critical silo routes and farm access roads have been left to deteriorate despite repeated warnings from affected communities.
The DA’s Roads and Transport spokesperson in the Free State Legislature, Dulandi Leech, accused the department of failing to maintain vital rural infrastructure and allowing major projects to stall without accountability.
Among the projects under scrutiny is the incomplete R720 route between Koppies, Edenville and Heilbron, as well as halted construction at the Wilge River Bridge.
Direct financial impact on sector
The deteriorating road network is having a direct financial impact on the agricultural sector.
Farmers are battling to transport grain and produce to silos, while heavy vehicles are suffering costly damage on severely eroded roads.
In Viljoenskroon, flooding and road closures have reportedly restricted access to Senwes silos, further disrupting harvesting operations during a critical period for producers.
The collapse of rural infrastructure is also affecting emergency and public services. Police vehicles, ambulances and government service providers are increasingly unable to reach remote communities due to unsafe and impassable roads.
Agricultural stakeholders warn that continued delays in repairs could deepen economic strain in rural towns and place additional pressure on food security.
Opposition parties argue that the ongoing deterioration reflects broader failures in infrastructure planning, project management and maintenance within the province.
The DA said it would continue pushing for immediate repairs and greater accountability. The party further warned that the continued neglect of rural roads in the province is no longer merely an infrastructure concern, but a growing economic and social crisis for the Free State.
