Only one of these locomotives survived the First World War to be taken onto the roster of the South African Railways.

27, and possibly more were rebuilt in the Usakos Workshop for use on the Otavi Railway's fast passenger service by removing the side-tanks and coal bunker and coupling it to a tender.

[5][6][7][8] During the First World War, the former German colony came under South African administration and the railways in GSWA came under control of the Union Defence Forces.

It retained its German Colonial Ha class designation and engine number in SAR service.

[2][9] In 1914, Henschel shipped two 4-6-2 locomotives to Swakopmund for the Otavi Railway, with works numbers 12829 and 12830.