Historic Brakpan Bowling Club burns down
The fire melted some window panes, took out the floor, and collapsed the roof.
The Brakpan Bowling Club, a feature of the town since 1919, burnt down during the early hours of Monday.
This club saw thousands of bowlers on its greens over the decades it was in use.
It is alleged that vagrants living in the building started the fire. The building has been neglected since its closure about six years ago.
The Brakpan Radio Group was the first on the scene just after 04:00 and assisted in evacuating people and securing the area.
The fire brigade was alerted and arrived to put out the fire. But by then, most of the damage was done, and the building collapsed, making it unsafe to enter it.
Stoffel Kruger, who lives opposite the club, woke up to the fire and tried to alert the police and fire brigade.
The day before, he had talked to his wife about trying to buy the club and restoring it to its former glory.
But those hopes have been dashed because the fire caused significant structural damage, including the complete collapse of the floor and roof.
William Ntladi, the district manager media liaison for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, told the Brakpan Herald that firefighters responded to a call at 03:45 about a structural fire at the club.
“Primary responding crews from the Brakpan Central Fire Station responded with two fire engines backed up by crews from the Tsakani Fire Station with one major pumper. A total of 10 firefighters were in attendance,” he said.
“On arrival, the structure was entirely engulfed by flames. Offensive fire suppression began immediately using water from the water tanker fire engine. The sustainability of the supply was connected from the nearby fire hydrant.”
Ntladi confirmed there were no casualties on the scene.
“It is alleged someone known to the occupants of the bowling club deliberately torched the building, and as a result, an arson case is being investigated by the local SAPS,” he added.
PR Clr Riaan van Zyl was on the scene just before 07:00 and is working with the SAPS, CPF and private security firms to patrol the area to prevent criminals from looting the burnt building and causing further damage or endangering themselves.
Van Zyl asked the area’s community to alert the SAPS or the CPF if they should see anyone enter the club. Much of the club’s history has been lost over the years because of neglect, and the fire is sure to have eradicated any remaining archival material.
According to Selby Webster’s The Brakpan Story, the square on which the club is situated was initially planned for a school.
The grounds were also once home to the Brakpan Tennis Club – another ruined local landmark.
Webster’s book says little about the origin of the bowling club, but some of its early achievements are noted.
Billy Stead, a bowler from the club, was awarded Springbok colours and represented South Africa at the British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games) in the 1950s. Selby also records an “unusual event taking place in the 1960s”.
He writes: Four young teenagers, whose fathers were members of the Brakpan Bowling Club, were playing bowls (with all the old bowls that the club could find) on the lawn on the side of the green.
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Eventually, the club allowed them on to the green during lunch hour and after the men had stopped playing in the afternoon.
It wasn’t long before they were allowed to play with the grownups – and were more than holding their own.
They formed their own team and entered the Rennie Cup Competition open to all clubs in the Transvaal. To everybody’s amazement, they reached the final where they were beaten by Belgravia.
As they started work, they left Brakpan but continued their bowling careers in other areas. All four were to become Springboks, and one was to become world champion. They were Graham Jones, Dennis and Robby Rayfield and Doug Watson.
