{"id":49416,"date":"2026-02-08T05:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T05:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=49416"},"modified":"2026-02-08T05:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T05:06:20","slug":"the-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-south-african-landmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/02\/08\/the-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-south-african-landmark\/","title":{"rendered":"The sad story of a 128-year-old South African landmark \u2013 Newsday"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For over a century, the corner of Market and Commissioner Streets was marked by Die Herberg Hotel, a building whose walls traced the rise, transformation, and trials of Krugersdorp itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>From its origins as a Victorian showpiece to its Art Deco reinvention, the hotel was more than brick and mortar, it was a witness to the town\u2019s history.<\/p>\n<p>The story began in 1897, when Polish chemist Waclaw Thomas von Klonovski commissioned a grand three-story building that would bear his name.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Klonovski, who had arrived in the Transvaal Republic in the 1880s and opened Krugersdorp\u2019s first pharmacy on Ockerse Street, spared no expense.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Renowned contractors Robson &amp; Holton, later responsible for the Krugersdorp Town Hall, crafted a Victorian masterpiece complete with an ornate corner tower, intricate balconies, and expansive \u201colde worlde\u201d rooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Its roof offered photographers a vantage point for some of the earliest panoramic images of the town during the Second Anglo-Boer War.<\/p>\n<p>Klonovski\u2019s tenure in Krugersdorp was cut short by politics: he refused to swear allegiance to the British administration after the war and emigrated to the United States, leaving his architectural legacy behind.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transformation to a community hub <\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-3-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Die Herberg Hotel in its prime. Photo: Supplied (colorised by AI).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527166_354_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527166_354_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Die-Herberg-Hotel-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Die-Herberg-Hotel-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Die-Herberg-Hotel-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hotel in 2009. Image: Google Maps<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the 1930s, the building began its transition into a hotel.\u00a0A 1939 renovation introduced an Art Deco wing, blending modernity with the original Victorian charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Later, under Dr. Pretorius, the hotel was officially renamed Die Herberg and became a cherished local institution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The inn\u2019s Oregon wood floors, soaring ceilings, and the celebrated Riempies Restaurant, known for its snails and oxtail, made it both a \u201chome away from home\u201d for travellers and a gathering spot for the town\u2019s residents.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Decline, fire, closure and an uncertain future<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527168_743_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527168_743_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-3-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527171_494_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527171_494_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-3-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527173_688_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527173_688_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4-4-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4-4-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4-4-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>But the glory of Die Herberg waned as Krugersdorp\u2019s CBD faced rising crime, neglect, and decay.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On October 13, 2025, a catastrophic fire gutted the upper floors and roof. Firefighters contained the blaze, but the century-old interiors were largely destroyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Heritage groups and local politicians condemned the fire as emblematic of the broader decline of the town centre.<\/p>\n<p>The aftermath sparked a tense standoff between the hotel\u2019s owners and the Mogale City Local Municipality.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By December 5, 2025, under the enforcement of Mayor Lucky Sele, the hotel was officially shut down.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities cited structural risks and the impossibility of safely reopening parts of the interconnected building.<\/p>\n<p>After 128 years, Die Herberg\u2014once a jewel of Krugersdorp\u2014remains silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Its future now hinges on a restoration process that is both costly and complex, leaving residents to wonder whether the inn will ever welcome guests again.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Images of Die Herberg Hotel in 2026<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.jpg?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Herberg-Hotel-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Herberg-Hotel-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Herberg-Hotel-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527178_62_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-%E2%80%93.png?resize=640%2C360&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770527178_62_The-sad-story-of-a-128-year-old-South-African-landmark-\u2013.png 1200w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5-3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/newsday.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5-3-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"text-center border p-3 bg-light mt-4 rounded\">You have read 1 out of 5 free articles. Log in or register for unlimited access.<\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- Share Data Setup for JavaScript --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#sad #story #128yearold #South #African #landmark #Newsday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For over a century, the corner of Market and Commissioner Streets was marked by Die Herberg Hotel, a building whose&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49416"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49418,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49416\/revisions\/49418"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}