By Levy Masiteng
Nine people have died following the collapse of a building at a construction site in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, on Monday evening.
Three additional bodies were recovered on Tuesday morning as search and rescue operations continued, after six fatalities were confirmed on Monday.
According to Emergency Medical Services (EMS), 12 workers were inside the building at the time of the collapse. One worker remains unaccounted for, while another was rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.
EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the incident occurred at Amethyst Business Park. Preliminary reports indicate that a concrete slab dividing the structure into two storeys caved in, causing a structural failure that trapped workers beneath rubble.
“At this stage, we do not have information on whether the building was operating as a factory,” Khumalo said. “We will have more information once we locate the building owner, whom we have not yet met.”
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero revealed during an oversight visit on Tuesday that no formal building plans had been submitted to the City for the structure, in contravention of municipal by-laws and building control regulations.
Addressing the media at the scene, Morero said preliminary findings point to serious non-compliance and that an official inquiry would follow.
“The victims include both South African and Lesotho nationals,” he said.
The injured are receiving medical treatment in hospital, according to the City.
Morero confirmed that an independent investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
“We are undertaking an independent investigation to establish the cause of the collapse. We want full transparency and accountability,” he said, adding that the unsafe structure would be demolished once investigative processes are completed.
The City has extended condolences to the families of the deceased and committed to providing support to affected relatives.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson, accompanied by Council for the Built Environment (CBE) Chief Executive Officer Msizi Myeza, also visited the site.
“This afternoon, I visited the site of the tragic building collapse in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, where nine people have lost their lives. I offered my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and support to all those injured. We thank our brave emergency services who worked tirelessly under incredibly difficult conditions,” Macpherson said.
“This is the third building collapse in three months. We should never normalise the collapse of any building. Buildings are not meant to collapse. The Council for the Built Environment will investigate whether negligence or misconduct occurred, and I will be engaging at a national level to urgently review the regulation and enforcement of building standards. Public safety must always come first.”
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