As they battled the fire throughout the day, onlookers stood in the surrounding city centre streets - kept at a safe distance by emergency personnel - as the blaze devastated the building.
Ngesikhathi belwa nomlilo usuku lonke, ababukeli bebemi emigwaqweni esenkabeni yedolobha - begcinwe endaweni ephephile ngabezimo eziphuthumayo - njengoba umlilo ubhidliza isakhiwo.