This is according to MEC William Bulwane during his budget speech last week. Bulwane says continuous heavy rainfall and flooding have contributed to the forming of potholes, slippages, and washing away of pipes and culverts on some roads. The MEC adds that as his department plans and tries to expand the provincial tarred road network with new projects, rain on the other hand takes them two steps back by eroding some of the roads that were supposed to still be intact under normal circumstances.

Meanwhile, Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber, or Agbiz, says rural road networks in South Africa are at the heart of the farming value chain, especially for transporting the produce from farms to storage areas and various markets for consumption and exports. He explains that the heavy rain during the 2021/22 summer season destroyed the already poorly maintained rural roads. Sihlobo says several farmer associations have highlighted this challenge and called for local and national government intervention to improve the roads. For the Free State, which is a key region for South Africa’s grain and oilseed production, the deteriorating roads infrastructure challenge was also raised over the past weekend at the Presidential Imbizo in Mangaung, which President Cyril Ramaphosa led.

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Two suspects are expected to appear before the Molopo Magistrate's Court in Mmabatho in the North West on charges of stock theft and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Their arrest comes after they tried to load cattle onto trailers in the Majemantsho Village outside Mahikeng. According to a police statement, the suspects fled the scene last week when they were confronted by a shepherd, leaving behind two vehicles with trailers, five cows, one bull and two calves. Neighbouring farmers were mobilised and the suspects were apprehended and handed over to the police. A firearm as well as the cattle, which are worth an estimated value of R100 000, were recovered. Furthermore, two other suspects are expected to appear in the Mogwase Magistrate's Court for possession of suspected stolen property, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and the negligent handling of a firearm. This, after a stolen meat cutter machine, as well as a rifle and three slaughtered cows were found in their possession.

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