Johannesburg: Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to those injured, following the partial collapse of a building in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, where nine people have tragically died.
According to South African Government News Agency, visiting the site on Tuesday afternoon alongside emergency services, the Minister stated that the building collapse raises serious questions around systemic weaknesses. He extended his thoughts and prayers to the families of the deceased and those injured, as well as to the workers and families affected by this tragedy. The Minister also praised the emergency services personnel for their tireless efforts in rescuing survivors and recovering bodies.
Macpherson emphasized the commitment of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, along with the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), to support affected families and ensure accountability where wrongdoing has occurred. He insisted that building collapses should not be normalized, indicating there were serious failures leading to this tragedy. He assured that the findings of the investigation would be made public once concluded, and action would be taken against any individual found complicit.
The Minister announced that the CBE would investigate the circumstances of the collapse to determine if professional negligence, contravention of mandatory standards, or any misconduct occurred. He also plans to expedite a meeting with the Minister of Human Settlements to review building regulation and enforcement standards in South Africa to prevent future tragedies.
Macpherson highlighted the need to address deeper structural issues indicated by repeated building collapses and stressed the importance of improving building safety and construction oversight. He affirmed the commitment to developing South Africa into a trusted construction site, where building safety is prioritized and loss of life is avoided. He expressed confidence in strengthening the regulatory environment and building a better South Africa through collaborative efforts.