JG Strijdom Tunnel boasts tourism economy in Sekhukhune

Tswenyane

Since its construction in 1959, the famous Abel Erasmus Pass which forms part of the JG Strijdom Tunnel, is a spectacular attraction to thousands of tourists who are visiting Limpopo Province, particularly Fetakgomo Tubatse in Sekhukhune Region.

The 133-meter-long JG Strijdom Tunnel situated in the Limpopo Province, along the R36 Road between Ohrigstad and Tzaneen. The pass is essentially two passes connected by a large plateau, with the vast majority of the bends and steep climbs and descents being located along either end. The roadside of the JG Strijdom Tunnel is lined with vendors and crafts artists who sell souvenirs to tourists stopping to take a look at the tunnel or to take a photograph of the Olifants River which is viewed below.

The destination navigates the Manoutsa Section of the Limpopo in the Drakensberg Mountains. JG Strijdom Tunnel was named after fifth Prime Minister of South Africa Johannes Gerhardus (JG) Strijdom, who was also known as ‘Hans Strydom or the Lion of the North’, and notably, the Abel Erasmus Pass was named after a very prominent citizen of the area in the late 1950s.

The destination was officially opened on the 8th of May 1959 and is regarded as an engineering triumph, with a sequence of bends and twists that can only give rise to admiration for the gold rush pioneers of the late 19th century that carved this route through the mountains with their wagons.

The Abel Erasmus Pass has 62 bends, corners and curves of which 12 exceed an arc of 90 degrees. This huge pass is over 24km long and has an altitude variance of 737 metres. The road surface is in a good condition, however, the pass is sometimes plagued by heavy traffic which can be very difficult to pass slow-moving trucks with road authorities advising motorists to ‘please exercise a degree of tolerance and patience, and give yourself plenty of time to traverse this route’.

The passing offers tourists stunning views of the Drakensberg Mountains and the Blyde River Canyon. Some of opportunities that should be expected by visitors include viewing of waterfalls such as the Kadishi Tufa Waterfall as well as other natural attractions.