The roads around a small South African town are so poor that they threaten lives and hurt the community
The quality of roads in Alma, Limpopo province, is so poor that they pose a safety risk and negatively impact residents’ quality of life.
Alma is a small town situated south of Vaalwater in the Waterberg region, surrounded by green-grey bushveld vegetation.
It is tucked just east of the Marakele National Park and falls under the Modimolle–Mookgophong Local Municipality.
The town is surrounded by private game farms, luxury lodges, and golf estates, which have great appeal for tourists.
Because the area is malaria-free, it is popular for weekend getaways, particularly for travellers from Gauteng.
It also functions as a small farming and transport hub for the local agricultural community, with schools and other services.
Alma has faced service delivery challenges, including crumbling infrastructure and a lack of prioritised maintenance.
One of the biggest problems is the roads in the area, which, due to a lack of maintenance, have deteriorated.
It has reached such concerning levels that the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) stepped in to address it through political channels.
It wrote a letter to Limpopo’s MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Sebataolo Rachoene.
Through this action, it asked for clarity on the lack of visible progress with road maintenance in the area.
The Department said in March 2026 that maintenance work on the D975, D2748 and D1082 roads had already started or would commence soon.
However, local residents and farmers in the Alma district said that there was little to no sign of improvement.
These roads are important for agricultural activities, school transport, emergency vehicles, and the local economy.
“The current appalling condition of the roads not only poses a safety risk but also reduces the quality of residents’ daily lives,” the VF Plus said.
Photos of roads in Alma
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