The fire that caused significant damage to the Herberg Hotel in Krugersdorp’s central business district (CBD) on Monday evening (13 October) is far more than an isolated incident.
It serves as clear proof that the heart of Krugersdorp is decaying at a rapid rate.
Although the police are still investigating the cause of the fire and no-one was injured, the damage to this historic landmark is a tragic loss.
The Herberg Hotel, which was built shortly after the town was founded in 1889 and later expanded in 1939, not only represents architectural heritage, but also the legacy of a once-prosperous CBD.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) laments the damage to the Hotel, but views it as indicative of a much more pervasive problem.
It is a consequence of years of neglect, crime and infrastructure decay in Krugersdorp’s CBD.
The party repeatedly warned against issues such as the overall decay, theft of infrastructure, including power cables, crime and common vandalism that have rendered the area unrecognisable.
The ravaged Hotel serves as a poignant reminder of what happens when a town’s CBD is not properly protected.
The Freedom Front Plus implores the Mogale City Local Municipality to stop turning a blind eye to the decay.
Pro-active measures should urgently be implemented to save Krugersdorp’s CBD from utter ruin.
