Lutendo Ramavhale, a minibus taxi driver who operates on the Nzhelele-to-Louis Trichardt route, describes the Hendrik Verwoerd tunnels as a potential accident zone. "I have to reduce speed and drive through carefully. I am really scared of passing through the tunnels at night because I might be robbed," said Ramavhale, a member of the Dzanani Taxi Association.
The tunnels, built in 1961, have never had lighting. Sipho Ncedana, a SANRAL project manager, confirmed this, stating: "Lighting for the tunnels was never considered due to the geographical location."
The primary reason for the lack of lighting is the absence of a nearby power source. However, SANRAL is now planning to install lights, although the project is still in the design phase. "There is a planned project between Makhado and Masekwaspoort that includes lighting the tunnel," Ncedana explained.
Hundreds of vehicles and many pedestrians use the N1 road and pass through the tunnels daily. Warning signs are posted at the tunnel entrances, advising motorists to switch on their headlights and reduce speed. Some drivers even hoot to alert others of their presence inside the tunnels.
Murunwa Nemangalo, a resident of Maname Paradise village, passes through the tunnels almost daily. He shared his struggles with the newspaper: "I don't have a mobile phone to provide light, so I often walk on the stones in the walkway because it's so dark in the tunnels."
Peter Mbedzi, another resident from the same village, said he and his friends liked to gather in an open space near the tunnels. However, they only visit in groups of four or more for safety reasons.