July 18, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
A DEAFENING explosion, a cloud of dust and shouts of excitement and all that remained of the North Boiler House, one of Johannesburg's oldest buildings, was - the North Boilder.
Scores of people gathered in Newtown on Sunday, 17 July to witness the implosion of the building by a demolition and implosion company, Wreckers Dismantling.
The excitement, though, turned into disappointed groans when the pillars of the hall withstood the explosion. Only a section of the building was destroyed. The North Boiler House is one of three buildings on the site, along with Turbine Hall and the South Boiler House.
Pillars of Turbine Hall withstand the explosion, with only a section of the building being destroyed
Maria Marais, the public relations officer for the company, said an investigation into the botched implosion was being undertaken.
"At the moment we do not have a clear idea what caused the building not to fall. We are currently waiting for an inspection report from the investigation team which will determine the next course of action."
Marais said the next attempt to implode the building would probably be next weekend. "This is because the city will be quiet and least business activity will be taking place," she said.
The Turbine Hall, situated on Ntemi Piliso and Jeppe streets, was Johannesburg's first coal-fire powered power station and has been a dilapidated eyesore on Newtown's landscape for the past 20 or so years.
In 2002 veteran musicians like Vusi Mahlasela, Judith Sephuma, PJ Powers and Jimmy Dludlu performed in the hall.
The building was recently bought by a private company for development, as part of the efforts to rejuvenate Newtown, Johannesburg's cultural hotspot.
Parts of Newtown will remain closed to traffic until the structure has been brought down.
"The section between Ntemi Piliso and Miriam Makeba streets will remain closed to human and motor traffic until further notice because the building poses a threat to human safety," said Wayne Minnaar, the metro police public relations officer.
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