What was once the pride of the British garrison at Potchefstroom, is now a pile of rubble. The city recently lost one of its Grade 2 Provincial Heritage Sites, when the General’s House was destroyed in a veld fire.
The General’s House was the only brick and mortar building in a sea of galvanized iron structures built as part of the garrison of Potchefstroom after the Anglo-Boer War. The building has been standing empty for two decades, in spite of numerous attempts by various individuals and organisations to have it restored and used. Early in June a concerned resident of Potchefstroom tried to contact the relevant authorities to warn them of the dangers of the vegetation right next to the building catching fire. He took photographs showing dried grass and trees growing up against the walls of the house.
Potchefstroom experienced a boom after the Anglo-Boer War, when thousands of British soldiers were stationed at the garrison. To accommodate them cantonments were erected. These galvanized iron and wood structures were made of Jarrah wood and imported from India. Costs for the construction of the cantonments in Potchefstroom amounted to approximately £1,5 million. Facilities catered for any conceivable need of the occupants. Apart from barracks, there were stables, hospitals, schools, recreational grounds, polo fields, clubs, reading rooms, post and telegraph offices, described as “all appurtenances of civilisation”. The streets were wider and better kept than those of the town of Potchefstroom. Almost immediately the garrison and its occupants contributed to an...
