MEYERTON – The Witkop Blockhouse, a declared national monument and one of the last remaining examples of its kind in South Africa, is rapidly deteriorating as structural damage and vandalism continue unchecked.

The historic site, situated on a koppie along the R59 near Daleside and Meyerton, shows visible signs of neglect, with parts of the structure crumbling and evidence of ongoing looting.

Once a strategic military lookout during the Anglo-Boer War, the blockhouse is now in a dilapidated state, raising concerns about the loss of an important piece of South Africa’s heritage.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the condition of the monument is the result of prolonged neglect and has launched a petition calling for urgent intervention by authorities.

According to DA Sedibeng caucus leader Cllr Sibusiso Dyonase, the party conducted an oversight visit to the site this week and was “shocked” by its condition.

“The monument is falling to pieces from neglect by the municipality,” Dyonase said. “It is crumbling from structural damage and marred by vandalism. This site has historic and heritage significance and cannot be allowed to collapse.”

The DA is calling on the Gauteng Department of Tourism and the Sedibeng District Municipality to invest in restoring and preserving the monument. The party argues that, beyond its cultural value, the site has tourism potential that could benefit the local economy.

As part of its campaign, the DA in Midvaal has launched a petition aimed at the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority – Gauteng (PHRA-G) and the Sedibeng District Municipality. The petition demands the restoration of the damaged structure and roof, the installation of secure braces to prevent further collapse, fencing to deter vandals and looters, proper heritage signage, and regular inspections and maintenance.

“For more than ten years, residents and heritage activists have been fighting to have the Witkop Blockhouse preserved,” the petition states, adding that few attempts have been made to salvage what remains of the site.

The Witkop Blockhouse was declared a national monument in 1948 and is one of only about 50 blockhouses still standing in South Africa. Built in 1900 under the orders of Lord Roberts, it formed part of the British military strategy during the Anglo-Boer War to monitor Boer movements and protect key transport routes, particularly railway lines. Many of these blockhouses were constructed by black South Africans under British supervision.

The Witkop structure is unique as the only remaining example of its original design along the railway line between Vereeniging and Elandsfontein (Germiston). The two-storey blockhouse, complete with a lookout tower and shooting holes, was strategically positioned to provide visibility as far as Johannesburg.

The DA says it will continue to push for the protection of cultural and historical assets, warning that without urgent intervention, the Witkop Blockhouse could be lost permanently.