Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, says that the building that collapsed in Ormonde, southern Johannesburg, will be demolished. The tragedy claimed nine lives.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday while visiting the site where the double-storey structure gave way on Monday afternoon.
Search continues for building owner
The building, which was still under construction, collapsed when one of its floors caved in, trapping workers beneath the rubble. Authorities are struggling to locate the building’s owner.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the collapse and confirmed the nine deaths.
Macpherson extended condolences to the victims’ families, lamenting the seriousness of the matter. Authorities are investigating what happened.
Investigation into cause of collapse
“No words will ever be able to capture the pain of losing someone, especially a breadwinner. It would be premature and irresponsible for us to speculate on the causes of the collapse, our main focus now is the families of those grieving their loved ones,” he said.
This is the third building to collapse in recent months in the city.
“This demands a crisis response because it has once again exposed a fundamental challenge in how the built environment is regulated in South Africa. We are asking for the owner of this building to come to the front, take accountability and explain what happened here. I must say that this structure will be demolished,” he added.
Building violated city bylaws
Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg has revealed that construction of the building, which is next to an electricity pylon, violated the city’s bylaws, with proper procedures not being followed.
“There is no record of approval from municipal authorities, and the building plans were never submitted for review or formally sanctioned.
“The required permits were not obtained, and mandatory inspections were not conducted in accordance with local regulations. Consequently, the structure does not meet established city planning and building standards and is classified as an unlawful development under applicable bylaws,” said the city.
READ MORE: Building collapse claims four lives in Ormonde business park, some still trapped in rubble
