Historic Potchefstroom train station goes up in flames

Posted by Anita Froneman on 21 September 2020

Large parts of the 100-year-old train station in Potchefstroom, North West burnt down on Saturday night, September 19. Transnet security guard Lawrence Mtshali said he smelled smoke around 11pm, went outside and saw the roof of the station on fire, according to The Citizen.

‘It’s terrible! When I went outside the roof was on fire. I immediately told my colleague to call the fire brigade,’ Mtshali said. The fire was contained close to 1am on Sunday.

According to Police spokesperson Col Adele Myburgh, the cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is underway, reports Times Live. There were no injuries or casualties.

Devastating. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Z7HCzGt0mW

— Rasaad Adams  (@RasaadAdams) September 19, 2020

The main train station in Potchefstroom was gutted in flames yesterday evening, the 19th of September 2020.

Here is what is left of this iconic 102-year-old building. pic.twitter.com/ZLdEvF9EZs

— Stef (@stefnel1978) September 20, 2020

What’s left of Potchefstroom main train station. 💔💔💔 @MbalulaFikile #Hillbrow pic.twitter.com/HqeTXzuWpq

— 👑 🇿🇦🇨🇳 (@PapiOfficial_25) September 20, 2020

The Potchefstroom train station was burned down last night. pic.twitter.com/7eF9K6V523

— Lemon Peace (@nicorien) September 20, 2020

The strain station was still in use for long-haul Cape Town-Johannesburg journeys, and was a popular tourist attraction for its iconic Dutch architecture.

Image credit: Twitter/stefnel1978