No funding to tar Farmall roads, says JRA

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24-07-2026
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Fourways Review
Source

Despite ongoing complaints from residents about deteriorating gravel roads, particularly during the rainy season, the Johannesburg Roads Agency says routine maintenance will remain the primary intervention as funding constraints rule out road upgrades for now.

Farmall residents will have to continue relying on routine maintenance of gravel roads, with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) confirming there are currently no plans to upgrade the area’s roads to tar due to funding constraints.

The update comes after residents again raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of roads, particularly during the rainy season when some routes become difficult to navigate.

Resident Kirsten Nel previously told the Fourways Review that increasing development in the area had not been matched by road infrastructure improvements.

“There are new developments in the area, new traffic and still no road upgrades. In the wet season roads get bad enough that people get stuck.”

Ward 96 councillor Rufas Maswazi previously acknowledged residents’ frustrations, explaining that road maintenance in Farmall and neighbouring Chartwell is complicated by the area’s agricultural zoning.

“Farmall and Chartwell are agricultural holdings. For roads to be tarred there would need to be agreement from the community. Some residents support tarring while others want to maintain the rural character of the area,” said Maswazi.

He added that grading remains the primary form of maintenance while the city works within its available budget.

Responding to a follow-up inquiry from the Fourways Review, JRA HOD: Infrastructure Development Kwazelela Mcetywa confirmed they are aware of the ongoing complaints from residents.

“Most of the roads in Farmall are gravel roads, and we always ensure that we grade the roads twice over a quarter.”

The roads agency confirmed it has received numerous complaints regarding the condition of roads in the area.

“There is no planned upgrading of gravel roads to surfaced roads due to the unavailability of funds. However, routine road maintenance is undertaken on the existing unsurfaced roads to keep them in a trafficable state,” said Mcetywa.

JRA said routine maintenance will remain the primary intervention as funding constraints continue to delay any plans for permanent road upgrades in Farmall.