Minister Dean Macpherson conveys condolences following Johannesburg building collapse, calls for systemic review of built environment oversight
Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has expressed his deepest condolences following the partial collapse of a building in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, where nine people tragically lost their lives.
The Minister said the collapse - the third in the past three months - raises serious concerns about potential systemic weaknesses in the regulation and enforcement of building standards in South Africa.
Minister Macpherson confirmed that the Council for the Built Environment will investigate the incident to determine whether professional negligence or misconduct occurred, and that he will expedite engagements at the national level to review regulatory oversight and prevent similar tragedies.
Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and to all those injured, following the partial collapse of a building in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, where nine people have tragically died. Visiting the site on Tuesday afternoon alongside emergency services, the Minister said the building collapse - the third in the past three months - raises serious questions about whether systemic weaknesses are contributing to repeated tragedies.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and with all those who have been injured during this incredibly difficult time, as well as the workers and families affected by this tragedy. We furthermore thank the brave men and women in our emergency services who worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and recover bodies. As the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, together with our entity, the Council for the Built Environment, we will continue working with all stakeholders to support affected families and to ensure accountability where wrongdoing has occurred,” Minister Macpherson said.
“As I have said before, we should never normalise the collapse of any building. Buildings are not meant to collapse, and therefore, there must have been serious failures that led to the tragedy we witnessed. We are determined to get to the bottom of this and will release the findings publicly once the investigation has concluded. We will not hesitate to take action against any individual found to be complicit.”
The Minister said that in the days ahead, the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), which regulates professionals within the built environment sector, will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse to determine whether professional negligence, contravention of mandatory standards, or any misconduct took place. He added that he will be expediting a meeting with the Minister of Human Settlements to review the regulation and enforcement of building standards in South Africa, with the aim of preventing similar tragedies in future.
“We need to be frank in acknowledging that repeated building collapses point to deeper structural issues that must be urgently reviewed to improve building safety and construction oversight. As we work to turn South Africa into a construction site, it is critical that we do so in an environment where building construction can be trusted and the loss of life avoided. By working together to find solutions, I have no doubt that we can strengthen the regulatory environment and build a better South Africa.”
Enquiries:
James De Villiers
Spokesperson to the Minister
Cell: 082 766 0276
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