13/08/2026
Building Roads That Bring Communities Together: Terracrete™ in Rural Eswatini
Elgin Rust and Karin Rust from the Terraforce Retaining Walls® head office in Cape Town, South Africa, recently visited rural community roads in Ezulwini with Michael Toepfer, a Terraforce® licensed manufacturer and recommended contractor in Eswatini. The roads were paved with Terraforce®'s permeable paver Terracrete™, expertly installed by Michael and his competent team, and they show exactly why it's suited to steep, off-the-beaten-track access routes.
Before the blocks went down, the roads were graded into a trapezoidal shape for self-draining runoff, then finished with a 100mm G6 base layer. On very steep sections, whaler strips (diagonal strips of concrete-filled Terracrete™ blocks) were added for extra support, anchoring the paving where the gradient demanded it. Approximately 1.5km of road has so far been completed and successfully weathered traffic and storms over the past few years.
Once laid, the blocks provide a flexible lining that can accommodate some ground movement, and the large openings, covering 40% of the surface area, allow rainwater to drain straight through rather than run off. On site, you can already see grass and vegetation taking hold in the joints, helping root the paving into the subbase as the road settles.
For communities living on steep slopes and away from paved infrastructure, that combination of solid groundwork, permeability, and flexibility makes a lasting difference to everyday access, safer trips to school, easier deliveries, and homes that stay connected to the world beyond the hill.
Blocks manufactured and installed by Terraforce® licensed manufacturer, EFS Construction.
For more information on the block: https://www.terraforce.com/product-category/terracrete/
Bulk supply available. Delivered to your property.
📞 Call The Blockmakers for a quote: 99 233360
🔗 www.blockmakers.com.au
