Hi, thanks for watching! Please hit "Subscribe" while you're here. And you can browse many more "Just Off the Highway" stories on this channel.

I got off at Braamfontein Station to go to Bree Street Primary School for six years of my life... and it's the first time I hear about this!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Weird, isn't it? Seems too big an event to be so easily forgotten.

@izakbarnard8859

Жыл бұрын

So glad you are back...just off the highway! Bringing to life history I have never heard of. Much appreciated Al!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@izakbarnard8859 Thank you! Thanks for watching.

I never investigated the truth behind the story, but remember as a young child hearing the old people telling us about a blast they heard about from their parents.. So obviously nobody was still alive that was a witness to the tragedy. We took it as a old woman's tale.. It was told as "half of jhb and the suburbs was flattened".. So thank you for sharing this with us.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for your comment. Fantastic to hear from someone connected to people who actually experienced it. Makes it all the more real.

@elizaleroux9173

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway well you definitely got me back on track with the old story. If you are into old tragic stories, you would like to look at the two mayor bus tragedies.. Henley- on- klip (1970? Not sure) and Westdene (1980?) .. I was just out of high-school with the Westdene ( also never followed up on it, although it was big news back then) bus tragedy but met someone who was in the bus years later. Her sister didn't make it out but she did.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion. Tragedies that are so fresh and painful are beyond the scope of my channel.

@cousinjack2841

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway I live in Henley and the bus/train tragedy is still spoken about.... There's a beautiful memorial to the children who died at their school in Daleside... Also "memoribilia" pertaining to it at the Henley Library... Much about it on Google too of course...

@brucedownunda7054

Жыл бұрын

@@cousinjack2841 Here's a KZread account kzread.info/dash/bejne/nG2s09hyoLe1Ys4.html

On 6 September 1952 there was also a huge explosion on the rail station in Welkom, FS. That was in the early days of the town when mining started to escalate in the Free State goldfields.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that bit of history.

Glad I clicked on this ad. You do get the occasional gem. Keep it up. I'd love to learn more about South African history.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and encouragement. I'm glad you're enjoying the episodes.

A similar although smaller incident happened in either 1973 or '74 where a truck that transported around 10 or 15 tons of explosives to the West Rand gold mines, exploded on the R28 between the Westonaria turn off and where the R28 crosses the Potch road. Blew a massive crater where the two southbound lanes were. Fotunately no one was injured. The story was that the driver of a passing car noticed smoke underneath the truck and then pulled the truck over and notified the driver. The driver brought the truck to a stop at the side of the road then ran in the one direction to stop all traffic and his assistant did the same in the opposite direction. Luckily it was a section of the road that ran through some maize fields and the only damage appart from the damage to the road and a lot of broken windows in the area was a crumpled large electricity pylon and a little bus stop shelter that was leaning over away from the blast area. I had a piece of about 100mm of a leaf spring of the truck for years thereafter. The largest piece that remained of the truck was a short section of the crankshaft. I am certain if someone with a metal detector were to scan the area they would still recover pieces of metal from the truck.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That's a powerful story. Would love to interview those people. Thanks for sharing another fascinating bit of South African heritage.

@majbudricks5404

Жыл бұрын

@ Andre Venter I was living in Westonaria at the time at the time we thought it was a Sinkhole this happened just after the Sinkhole at Venterspos Tennis Club the shock waves from the truck was felt in Westonaria many shop windows were shattered -Our light fittings fell to the floor - we were too afraid to go indoors incase it was a sink hole.

@andreventer8734

Жыл бұрын

@@majbudricks5404 I remember the Venterspos tennis court incident. Then there was the abandoned little dorpie, Bank - also abandoned because of sinkholes. Scary times those with the mines draining the dolomites that caused the sinkholes

@majbudricks5404

Жыл бұрын

@André Venter Bank was demolished few abandon house left in Venterspos. Poor Whites were or are still living there unfortunately most are single Mothers on Drugs Social Workers are taking children from the age of 12 years old who have never seen a inside of a school ,toddler and babies to places of safety . Very sad situation

@user-fv5ck7ll6b

5 ай бұрын

🙄😁👁️ I remember that also very clearly 🧐👌

I've lived in this area my whole life and I love history. I never knew about this disaster. Thanks again Al. Am sharing. I love your programs.🙏😇🕊🌹

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi Michele, thanks for your comment and especially for sharing!

Hi Al Please make these episodes longer with more detail. Love your work

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the compliment. I intended the episodes to be easily consumable for people with general interest and little time, but, if there's interest, I'll try to evolve them into something more substantial.

@mmelijusticemaxegwana5936

Жыл бұрын

Please try 🙏

WOW.!!! I took up the opportunity to watch this video for a second time this morning... I wish for a longer more detailed story. Thank you for posting this videos on your website... Very interesting.. May you be blessed with more stories to share with us.........

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

I received your comment notification by email and it was the first mail I read this morning. Thanks so much for your kind and generous words. You really gave me a positive start to the day.

@BobyourUncle

Жыл бұрын

I would totally watch the 1 hour version. I knew about the disaster but this is the best description of it that I've seen by far.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@BobyourUncle Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it. Please subscribe and share it around.

I was born and raised in Johannesburg but it's my first time to hear this story it's so interesting 😲😲

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Yes, Joburg is full of histories and mysteries.

Born & bred in Johannesburg and NEVER heard of this disaster. Thank you.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Pleasure. Thanks for the comment.

Thank you for sharing this sad interesting story of our Country 🙏🏾🇿🇦

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure to share it with you.

Thanx for bringing this up on such a clear way. This must have been one of the most devastating disasters in history. What bothers me most is the lots of road transport lorries which transport explosives on road. Accidents happened very quick and unforseen.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Yes, that's a scary thought. I'm no expert, so I assume all safety precautions are followed. Otherwise...

@andreventer8734

Жыл бұрын

As a person who worked with explosives all my life, I can assure you that the explosives used today is MUCH safer. You can burn it or even strike it with a hammer and it will not explode.

Ironically 28yrs of anc has caused more damage to Jhb than the dynamite blast of 1896

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

😆

Thanks Al I've been waiting for this one!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your support, Mike. Glad you like it.

Thank you AL for sharing, I grew up in Pretoria and also never heard of this.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome. Glad I could share it with you.

Loved this. My dad worked at Modderfontein all his life so I probably know a bit more about dynamite and disasters than most

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I wish I could've spoken to an expert.

@gillianwright-ingle2452

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway it was a lovely video. My grandson and I are both obsessed with history xxx

Nice one Al!! Not many people know about this. Well told

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Leon! Glad you enjoyed the episode.

There was also the dynamite train explosion in 1932 near Leeudoringstad in the Western Transvaal. A fully loaded train with 320 tons of explosives exploded. Find more details by searching for Leeudoringstad.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for that detail. I will look it up.

I have known about this since I was a kid in the 1970s. Jose Burman wrote about this event in his book on South African disasters.

@sakabula2357

5 ай бұрын

I still got the book...

I am immensely impressed! I came across this video while researching the subject to make my own video, but I think not anymore...

@JustOfftheHighway

7 ай бұрын

Thanks! Always room for another p.o.v. I hope you'll go for it.

Im 51 and its the first time i hear about this . Awesome vids

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

51? Still a youngster. One of the amazing South African stories that almost fell through the cracks. Thanks for the compliment.

Very interesting. Thankyou!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure! Feel free to browse around my channel. There are lots of other South African interest episodes.

There was a similar dynamite train explosion in Welkom when I was a little girl about 70years ago

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I didn't know that.

Thanks for episode, I'm always interested in these type of stories but few of South Africa are told. I'm from KZN.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. KZN is a magical place filled with intriguing stories. I hope to travel there again soon

I, too, had never heard of this massive explosion. Thank you for bringing us this gem of Johannesburg history.

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed the episode.

The legend lives on... Good for you sir.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Much appreciated.

Very cool story never knew it was so bad.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to browse around my channel for more stories.

Would be very happy with longer episode. Love it

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@ngwaketsimogashoa8335

Жыл бұрын

Me too

Very, very, interesting story! I never knew if this explosion in Braamfontein, before. Wow!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Lucian. Glad you enjoyed the episode.

Thank you so much for your work. And you are right, although I lived in Pretoria for the past 27 years, its the first time I hear of it. I wouldn't mind that "hour long episode". Keep up the good work. Liked&Subscribed.

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment and encouragement. And for subscribing!

A fascinating account by an engaging raconteur…

@JustOfftheHighway

4 күн бұрын

🙏 Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the episode. It's amazing that the event has slipped through the cracks of history.

Very good doccie, thanks 😊

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure! Thanks for your comment.

Brilliant!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement.

Goodness, I'm almost 80, and I have never heard of this explosion. Thank you very much for the armchair travels. ❤️🌹🐝

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Absolute pleasure! Thanks for your kind comment. I hope you'll take a few minutes to browse my other episodes.

Please also report on the Leeudoringstad train explosion as a result of a hot axle box.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I'll do some research.

I worked in braamfontein, after finishing school in 1999

The eternal problems of bureaucracy... That this event is almost unknown - er - blows me away...

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

😆 Thanks for the comment!

Great story telling!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

@yvetteworrall8909

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. His narrative skills are exceptional.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@yvetteworrall8909 Thanks very much for your kind words. I hope you'll browse through the other episodes.

Thank you. Very interesting video

@JustOfftheHighway

9 күн бұрын

My pleasure! Thanks for commenting.

Thank you for sharing this.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Absolute pleasure. I hope you'll browse some other episodes and spread the word.

Very good! Dankie. Geniet dit baie!

@JustOfftheHighway

27 күн бұрын

Baie dankie!

Thanks for this initiative to tell local stories! I've just stumbled over your channel, and I'm already a big fan 😀 Could you perhaps do a story on the existence of Mamelodi township? It apparently started as a concentration camp for black people in thr Anglo boer war.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

That's fascinating. I will definitely pursue this story. Thanks!

Thanks very much for telling us about something I did not know of. This should have been part of our history books. Sad loss of life to all involved.

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's amazing how major events simply slip between the cracks of history.

Hi there, speaking of dynamite. There is a small little town on the R502 between Orkney and Bloemhof called Leeudoringstrad. In the 1930's(I think) a train carrying the explosives was en route from Johannesburg to Kimberley and when entering the staion at Leeudoringstad the crew saw that the train was on fire and instead of stopping at the station they gunned it down the track and out of town where the explosion blew up the train, a nearby farm school and house and leaving craters that can be seen today. Not all the train crew made it out alive and they are in my eyes heroes that saved the town. Let me give you a quick oversight of the layout of the track and town. The station was a mile or so out of town towards Orkney and because of the momentum they already had coming into the station they decided to gun it past the town and hope the make it to the Bloemhof side out before the explosion and it expoloded at about 5 miles out if town. This happened past sunset and the bang coul be seen and heard as far as Kleksdorp and Bloemhof. Check out the video the local people made in memory of this.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. This is a fascinating story. I will certainly look into the event. Appreciate the detail you shared.

Geezahs, it’s the first time I hear this. 😢. I’m enjoying your stories Al.

@JustOfftheHighway

3 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! Yes, I can't believe that this cataclysmic event has been so thoroughly lost to popular memory.

Thanks so much , you have earned a subscriber. You! This gave me chills...... I'll share this story, I can promise is definitely not known by South Africans.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Love the history

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

I grew up in Staffordshire, GB, not too far from the village of Fauld, scene of the 1944 bomb dump disaster which, I believe, is still the world's largest non-nuclear man-made explosion. It took the top off a hill, and a farming community with it, yet my late mother, living not far from the incident, had never heard of it and, initially wouldn't believe the story. Dynamite and bomb blast, as you rightly saw, does some funny things in terms of who it hurts or spares.

@JustOfftheHighway

Ай бұрын

Wow! I'd never heard of that disaster either. Thanks for sharing.

The incident has similarities to the recent Lebanon explosion

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I'd forgotten about that one.

Longer episodes would ne wonderful

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement!

True storey...seen pictures of the accident

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Unbelievable destruction. Thanks for your comment.

excellent

@JustOfftheHighway

4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I read in the 60's that it was 'White' Railway employees homes that were flattened. That's why the monument is in a then White cemetary.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Interesting. I suspect that in 60's South Africa there might have been some racial sensitivity around the story. Earlier sources I've found don't mention that they were white houses. The devastation was so widespread I believe it's unlikely.

@andrewdutoit9571

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway You correct about Political opinion, so there is no chance of a memorial being erected to Black people in a White Cemetary. Apartheid didn't start in the 1960's, it's been with us from the year dot.

@andrewdutoit9571

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Tell me just because it was a poor area it had to be Black. Blacks were imported to service the Mines, they weren't the original miners as well. Refer the 1922 miners strike, White miners were striking agains the Black people coming in and taking the work.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Andrew, I think we're misunderstanding each other. I'm not saying it was any one specific racial group. Fact is, 60 tons of dynamite wouldn't have discriminated. What I've presented is what I believe to closest to the truth. You're welcome to disagree, but I won't be drawn further into a pointless racial argument.

@andrewdutoit9571

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Apologies, I heard as such. Keep it coming as there is a vast amount of history to be uncovered on the Rand. I'm massively interested but don't have the time for the research. Very interesting so please keep it coming.

I love history ♥

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad this is resonating with you. Thanks for the comment.

Complements on this very interesting presentation

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! I hope you'll browse the other episodes. There's a wide variety.

Thanks for this... I drive past that cemetery and railway very often. Now that I know the history behind the unfortunate souls buried there, it makes me even more sad to know the decrepit state it is currently in.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Pleasure, Ismail. Sometimes just remembering is the only form of respect we can offer at the moment.

Nice video, thanks Sir. Did you know that Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and essentially had worldwide patents on it. I don't remember all the nitty-gritty details, however there was a direct link between his company and the dynamite factory in South Africa. PS: I love your Toyota Corona Mk II. Is it a 1900 engine?

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks for your comment. Yes, I would have to check my source material, but I seem to recall the dynamite was manufactured locally under licence. Perhaps Lyttleton? Would have to check again.And yes, she's a 1972 with the 1900.

@friendlypiranha774

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway- lovely car you have there. I'm a tad jealous. There was a huge dynamite factory on Somerset West for about a century until sometime in the 1980s. Not its all developed land. I remember, being in the Strand, on a Wednesday morning they would test dynamite. The flat always used to shudder from the shock wave. The dynamite factory even had it's own postage cancellation mark for use on mail.

@gillianwright-ingle2452

Жыл бұрын

Try to get to the Modderfontein Dynamite Museum one day, it's fascinating

@gillianwright-ingle2452

Жыл бұрын

The Somerset West factory was a sister company of the Modderfontein factory, both owned by Harry Oppenheimer

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad the episode brings back memories. Thanks for sharing. Every bit of the jigsaw puzzle is important.

I've been reading the "Mannheim sage " books by Lorina Erasmus. Obviously fictional, but the Braamfontein explosion is mentioned. Very sad time in Johannesburg history. Strange how we never learned about this in school.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks for making that connection. I only vaguely remember a TV series with that name (or similar). I agree that it's strange the event wasn't taught. Perhaps authorities didn't want Joburg residents to think that explosives were unsafe?

what an interesting story I researched it after listening to this recording, I tried reading more on the story and there is so little written on it. I spent 6 years studying at Wits right near where it happened and I never even heard about this story. That is very strange to me.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Weird, isn't it? Perhaps it was overshadowed by later events? I can't figure it out.

Considering the shack fires, Jhb implemented a bylaw in +-1952 to prevent poor, may I say white, people from building a house with 3 walls, the 4 is that of another shack. The bylaw was that max 2 shacks can be joined, and that there must be access for emergency vehicles to be able to move between the shacks. Please find more details

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

That's an interesting consequence of this kind of tragedy. I wonder if such a bylaw still exists. If so, it certainly isn't enforced. Thanks for your comment.

I miss staying in Braamfontien.

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

I used to work there. Remember delicious lunch spots and great entertainment at night.

As a former braam resident, wow

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. It's quite disturbing when you realise what happened before all those tall buildings were built.

I was an extra in the sa tv show "Trucking" in this same cemetary.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That was a looong time ago. I think I auditioned for that one, but I didn't get the part.

Wasn't there also such an explosion on the West Rand, near Roodepoort or Krugersdorp?

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Please scroll down to a comment by @AndreVenter. He gives lots of detail about an explosion near Westonaria in 1973/4. Very interesting. I think you might be referring to the same one.

@wallylangsford3369

Жыл бұрын

I seem to remember my father showing me the location at Stormill, he remembered it from long ago, maybe in the 1930s or 40s.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@wallylangsford3369 Wow! Then it seems like yet another incident. I had no idea.

it's very mysterious

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Pity there was no way to do a modern forensic examination.

Sometime in the '70s there was a ship sailing past the Namibian coast and ran aground, cannot remember where. The problem with the ship was its cargo. It was carrying illegal arms for SA from Israel. The ship could not be salvaged. The authorities did not want to off load the cargo as it was felt that it would draw undue attention and awkward questions asked. So it was decided to blow the ship up... with dynamite. They brought in so much dynamite and loaded it on the ship into every space they could find. They took off in a helicopter and when they were several miles away they detonated the dynamite. The shock wave buffeted the helicopter. Windows were shattered in Walvis Bay. The United States picked up the explosion on seismographs and accused SA of detonating nuclear weapons. The was literally nothing left of the ship. Apparently walking in that area of the beach you would only find small pieces of metal. I have tried googling the story but cannot locate

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That's an amazing story. If true, it would certainly have been kept secret, so probably the only way of getting more details would be if someone involved leaked information.

@henryvanveen5365

Жыл бұрын

I will keep looking for the story. It was wriiten up in a military journal I came across when I was searching for information of the 3 Cubans who were caught as POW in Angola and brought to Voortrekkerhoogte Detention Barracks.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Fascinating stuff. Many untold stories.

Ek het nou net subscribed, Altyd nice om Suid Afrika se geskiedenis te hoor

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Dankie dat jy "ge-subscribe" (ingeteken?) het. Ek hoop jy geniet dit om deur die ander episodes te kyk vir meer geskiedenis en stories.

@alicepocock6176

5 ай бұрын

As a young girl we used to get off at Braamfontrin station, it was nearest to Sunnyside where our folks lived.

I have heard about this story

120-odd years before the London Underground "Terrorist attack" there was Braamfontein Station dynamite explosion in Johannesburg, South Africa, likely a "Terrorist attack" on Kruger's Transvaal Republic.

Sjoe this sounds like Lebanon where silos of wet grain exploded

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that was a huge explosion.

@henkackermann9986

Жыл бұрын

@Christine , the explosion at the silos in Beirut were because of tons and tons of potassium nitrate fertilizer that were stored in a warehouse close to the silos that ignited.

First time i hear about this story

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Glad I could share it with you.

@sarelras4103

Жыл бұрын

Yes it is i know a lot of stories in different parts of this country you never know it all

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@sarelras4103 Agreed. I often start reading about one topic and get completely sidetracked by fascinating stories that seem mostly overlooked.

Flipping hell!!

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

Yup. Precisely!

Yes I lived there....

It must have been very tough for the mining company

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Probably several mining companies. And mostly for the people of Johannesburg.

Further to my comments below, could you also fo a story on the African miners that stayed in the mining compounds in Cullinan in the late 1800s early 1900s - who have worked at the Cullinan Diamond Mine. While there they were there, they were apparently only allowed to go home once every three months and every time were given something to empty their stomachs to prevent theft of diamonds through swallowing. I wish to know the truth around this one... The old abandoned dilapidated old build style ruins of the compounds are still there in the big bushes next to the open pit Cullinan Diamond Mine - it is very spooky there. And how about a story on Paul Kruger at the time of the Anglo war where he fled with his cronies to Switzerland, taking all the Kruger coins with him and invested it in Switzerland....making locals believe that it was hidden somewhere here in RSA...the truth around this one would mean a lot to us 😁

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi Cynthia, thanks for your kind comment and detailed information. The bit that I've read about the various Kruger "treasures" is convoluted, but Cullinan is a place I would like to visit. I'll see what threads I can pursue.

I have a photo of the hole with my grandparents at that hole they lived in Endark street

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

That's fascinating! Photos of the event are rare. I hope someone in the family kept a record of their story too.

Wawawawaw so true

" In the Boer War, for the first time in a war conducted by a major European power, the British used concentration camps, starvation and disease as the crucial weapons to subdue the enemy. These atrocities were directed by Sir Alfred Milner, a Rothschild agent who had founded the Round Tables.( Which would later be the CFR -Council on Foreign Relations ) The stakes were high, the Rothschilds needed the enormous capital represented by gold and diamond riches of South Africa to finance their final drive for world power." - Eustace - The Curse of Canaan

Daar was ook n denamiet trein wat in Zambia teen n aankomende trein vas gery het.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Wow! Weet u wanneer was dit?

@dienar3717

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Sal vir jou uitvind, my skoonpa (oorlede) het meer as 25km soos die kraai vlieg daarvandaan geboer, die slag was so oorweldigend op die plaas dat hulle onmiddelik in die kar geklim het om te gaan kyk wat aangaan. Dit was die trein wat net plofstof op gehad het, oppad na die koperbelt in Zambia en DRK. Dele van die trein is km's van die ontploffing opgetel is. Grootste deel kon geen rekenschap van gegee word nie.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Skrikwekkend.

That my you so much

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

My pleasure. I hope you browse more episodes.

I remember finding out about this when I went to Braamfontein cemetery with my mom and aunt in the late 70s or early 80s. We happened to see the memorial and I was fascinated. We looked up old history books in the library to find out more. I also asked my grandmother and although it happened 4 years before she was born, she remembered hearing about it growing up. It's covered in a few History of Johannesburg books that I've collected over the years too. I was in Braamfontein cemetery a couple of weeks ago to help document the desecration of the cremation graves, I wish I'd thought to go and have another look at the memorial again. ( I did see the new memorial to the Rand Revolt victims though.. Another event in Joburg's history that interests me) I'll go and find the dynamite memorial again next time I'm there.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this. And for your work at the cemetery. Yes, the Rand revolt was another fascinating, polarising event. I should go look at the new memorial.

What was the date In 1896?

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

The train arrived on Sunday, 16 February, so the explosion would've taken place Wednesday the 19th.

@tieniecloete9573

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Dit was n baie hartseer tyd gewees. Paul Kruger was daar, en die Engelse verslaggewer het geskryf dat die "flaxed hair deceased girls" het hom trane in sy oë gegee. Dankie vir n baie interessante maar ook n baie belangrike stukkie Geskiedenis.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Dankie vir daardie ekstra detail.

@elsabevdwesthuizen7139

Жыл бұрын

The Great Braamfontein Explosion happens February 19 1896. I stil have a News Paper of my grandparents .

🙄😢👁️ now please try covering the incident of the Braamfontein dynamite factory itself blowing up in the late 60's , early 70's 🧐😬⁉️

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

Hi, do you mean Modderfontein?

What is the history around the name "Braamfontein? What does braam mean?

@JustOfftheHighway

Ай бұрын

A quick look through the books tells me a "braam" is a bramble/blackberry. It was the name of the original farm and the "fontein" was somewhere near where Melville is today. Cool, hey?

Ek het nie eens hiervan geweet nie Dankie

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Dis 'n plesier. Ek hoop dat u dit geniet het.

I know this happened on the 19 of February not the 16th. My father was there and I was born on the 19th. He told me what happened on my birthday at the station

Did the driver make it?

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

According to my sources, yes he did.

@christotaljaard7984

Жыл бұрын

Yes he did....at the gates of ......

I know this graveyard

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Yes, many famous graves in the old Braamfontein cemetery.

Sak Sarel... Die Brug lê voor.......👁

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

😆

"Refurbishment?" 🤦🙈🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Piet Koen's father saw the carnage.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. I'm not familiar with the name. Can you provide more detail please?

Sunday 16 February 1896

@brightonphiri4223

Жыл бұрын

Disaster was on the Sunday 19 February

No cellphones then...

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Indeed. Few photographs.

Are you serious

@JustOfftheHighway

5 ай бұрын

As a heart attack.

Closed for repairs, or completely stolen like the rest of our railways

Thank you. I love your stories

@JustOfftheHighway

7 ай бұрын

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoy them. Please do share on your social media. This project needs subscribers to keep going.