UP IN FLAMES

Rustenburg/ Kroondal – Hunter’s Pub & Grill on the Dinie Estates road was razed to the ground by fire in the early hours of Thursday morning, 14 March. The damage to the business is estimated at about R4 million. 

According to a witness and barman, Eugene de Bruyn who lives on the premises, the fire started at about 1h15 am, almost an hour after the business had closed for the day. “When I saw the fire, I tried to break down the burglar doors to get inside, but could not open them. I then sped off to my manager’s house which is situated a few kilometres away,” de Bruyn said.  When the Platinum Weekly newspaper team arrived at the scene at noon, the thatched roof of the building was completely gutted and smoke from the structure’s wooden pillars covered the entire premises. 

In an interview with the business owner, Morné Coetzer, he said the fire was so intense that by the time the fire brigade arrived, it was all too late. He couldn’t comment on the cause of the fire as they were waiting for the forensic experts from Gauteng to investigate. “It can be arson or an electrical fault, at this stage we are not sure of the cause,” he said.

Motorists and the pub’s patrons passing by watched in shock as fire reduced their once favourite venue to ashes.

“We will rebuild the place once all investigations had been completed. In the meantime I need to see how I can try to organise temporary jobs for the 14 people employed here,” Coetzer said.