15-storey building turns to rubble and dust in just 6 seconds

03 October 2016 - 09:37 By Sipho Mabena

Destruction of massive proportions struck Pretoria yesterday, when the 15-storey HG DeWitt building in the city centre was reduced to rubble and dust. The controlled implosion produced screams of excitement from dozens of people who gathered to witness the building being brought down yesterday.The former police housing building was imploded with the use of 80kg of explosives, which were placed carefully into 258 holes drilled into the building's walls, floors and columns.The building, which was bought by the Department of Public Works in 1984, crumbled within seconds of a warning siren. The destruction, which cost more than R18-million, was done by demolition man Joe Brinkmann.Brinkmann said it took four months to prepare the building."The explosion took less than three seconds. Within six seconds, the building was on the ground."Department of Public Works spokesman Thami Mchunu said the demolition was part of its "disposal strategy" of old and unsafe structures. He said the space would be used to build a new head office for the Department of Tourism...

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