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| Also called Department of Native Affairs NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING FOR THE UNION NATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT Old Pretoria Landmark will yield place to well-conceived new building that will well contribute to the reconstruction of Paul Kruger Street. A familiar old landmark in Pretoria is to go when the construction of the new Native Affairs Offices is begun, namely Z.A.S.M. House, in Paul Kruger Street. This old and unsightly building, now used as offices, will be demolished, and in its place will rise a new and imposing building to meet the ever-increasing needs of the Department. The locality plan shows the position of the new building, with one front facing Paul Kruger Street, an a possible future building on the remainder of the site, the two buildings being connected by a link , recessed to give an ornamental lay-out, which might be used for a memorial. As the new building will form one of a group of important buildings facing Paul Kruger Street, its relation is shown to the City Hall, with its garden foreground, and to the Transvaal Museum, which is intended to be completed with two projecting wings as shown. The ground-floor plan shows the extent of the projected new building. The portion shown with solid lined walls is in course of construction, while that portion still to be built is shown with hatched walls. The plan is designed with a repeated unit bay, to allow for subdivision into offices as required. A Native Appeal Court and a large registry are provided on the ground floor, in addition to a board-room, the usual offices, lavatory blocks and light courts; while on the first floor will be an assembly hall and a library. There will also be provided a Natives' yard, with male and female shelters and lavatories, and cycle sheds. The service yard will give access to the garages and store. There are to be two entrances with staircases and lifts, one in Paul Kruger Street, and one, already constructed, in Jacob Mare Street. Externally, the ground floor is to be faced with granite from Brits. This durable, warm-coloured and attractively textured material is used to harmonize with a beautiful light red sand-stone from Waterpoort quarry, in the Transvaal, which forms the plain and fluted pilasters above. The stonework is surrounded by a ground of red brick, terminating in a coping of Waterpoort stone. The main entrance, from Paul Kruger Street, is to have a surround of carved floral blade and scrollwork. Above will be a series of sculptured panels, at first-floor level, of Native life, or other subjects relevant to the building, separated by fluted pilasters; and above the main cornice will be the Union Coat of Arms. In the front to Jacob Mare Street the same treatment is being continued, but with plain instead of fluted pilasters. The Coat of Arms is placed between two fluted pilasters at the centre of the row of sculptured panels executed by Mr. Alfred R. Martin, of Johannesburg, and which depict: "Fencing," "Music and Song," "Warriors and Potters," and "Kraal Life." Two further panels in the main entrance depict: "The Slinger," and "Bayete!" High above the coping is a central ornament of carved proteas. It is proposed to place two large bases for groups of statuary in front of the building in Paul Kruger Street, which will increase the monumental character of this street, and two smaller bases in Jacob Mare Street for portrait statues. The walls of the entrance vestibule, staircase and staircase halls are to be faced with travertine from Port St. Johns, Natal; and the vestibule is also to be paved with this material. The halls, main stair and ground floor corridors are to be paved with rubber, and the corridors of the upper floors with linoleum. The floors of the offices are to be of wood block. (PWSA May 1939 Vol II No 7:31-32). |
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