A north/south route, it connects Germiston with the south-eastern suburbs of Pretoria via Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein.

[1]: 87 From the M41 junction, it is parallel to the R21 freeway northwards, and it has the industrialized suburb of Isando to its left and the outskirts of O.R.

Continuing northwards, the M57 trails the Thembisa township to its west and the parallel R21 freeway to its east before intersecting the east/west R562 (Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Road) as Goedehoop Avenue just south-east of Clayville (also known as Olifantsfontein), where Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Road provides access to the Clayville CBD.

The M57 continues northwards, passing through Clayville East and through rural agricultural suburbs before leaving Ekurhuleni and crossing the municipal border into Tshwane and reaching the outskirts of Irene, crossing to the other side of the R21 freeway as a flyover.

Crossing the M31 Nellmapius Drive, it enters Rietvallei Park and afterwards, it enters Elardus Park, becomes Boeing Street and the M57 ends shortly thereafter at a t-junction with the M10 Solomon Mahlangu Drive at Waterkloof in Pretoria.