Rescue teams work tirelessly at the Amethyst Business Park in Ormonde, Johannesburg, after a two-storey building under construction collapsed, leaving nine dead. Picture Credit: Iol
By Aisha Zardad
Johannesburg – The death toll from the Ormonde building collapse has risen to nine, as government officials call for urgent intervention in the construction sector following what has been described as a pattern of fatal structural failures.
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya confirmed the updated toll after visiting the site on Tuesday morning. Search-and-rescue operations resumed after being temporarily suspended on Monday night, when six fatalities had been confirmed. By Monday evening, two victims were still trapped beneath the rubble and another worker was unaccounted for. The missing worker has since been located and confirmed dead, while two of those recovered from the debris later succumbed to their injuries.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when a concrete slab at a two-storey building under construction in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, gave way while workers were on site.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the structure had been erected in violation of city bylaws.
“The building involved was constructed in clear violation of the City of Johannesburg bylaws, as proper procedures were not followed,” Khumalo said.
“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.”
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero confirmed that no building plans had been submitted for approval.
“On inspection, our teams from EMS and development planning confirmed that no plans were submitted for the structure. We are still trying to trace the owners of the building. We know the property belongs to a company, but we are working to identify those responsible,” Morero said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson visited the site alongside Dr Msizi Myeza, CEO of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE).
Macpherson announced that the CBE would lead the investigation into the collapse to ensure all regulatory processes are triggered.
“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,” he said.
With three fatal building collapses occurring in recent months, Macpherson said government must consider a broader intervention.
“Each incident carries its own specific circumstances, but cumulatively we must understand what is behind these collapses and what more we can do as the government. We must confront whether systemic conditions are allowing these tragedies to occur. This demands a crisis response.”
He added that while investigations were under way, it would be irresponsible to speculate on the cause.
“At this stage, our focus remains on supporting family members. It would be premature and irresponsible to speculate on the causes of the collapse while families are still grieving,” he said.
Macpherson called on the construction company, New Order Inv, to come forward.
“I want to call on the company that constructed this building to come forward and take accountability. If any member of the public knows where the owner of this company is, they should immediately contact the SAPS or local law enforcement,” he said.
He warned that if the company failed to do so, the City of Johannesburg would demolish the remaining structure and assess nearby buildings for safety risks.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who also visited the site, expressed sorrow over the loss of life and condemned what he described as negligence.
“It hurts me to lose lives like this. And it also hurts me to have people who need to work for their families to be either sleeping in or admitted in hospital purely because of some things that have not been done properly,” Lesufi said.
Sibiya said the tragedy echoed the deadly George building collapse in 2024, which claimed 34 lives.
“What we are seeing here is something that we should not be seeing. If everyone in this country took issues of compliance seriously, we would not be here. If people complied with all the laws, we would not be here,” he said.
Some of the deceased were foreign nationals, including individuals believed to be from Lesotho. Macpherson extended condolences to the families of the victims and paid tribute to rescue workers.
“I also want to pay tribute to our brave rescue women and men who put their lives on the line to rescue those trapped under the rubble. They always rush into these situations, putting their safety second and the desire to save lives first,” he said.
“No words will ever be able to capture the pain of losing a loved one in such a devastating manner, particularly those who are breadwinners and working every day to support their families.”
Investigations into the exact cause of the collapse are ongoing. Police confirmed that nine inquest dockets have been opened for investigation.
In a statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and extended his thoughts to survivors. “President Ramaphosa expects an inquiry into the collapse will provide answers to the families of the deceased and to survivors and that such an inquiry will help to prevent a recurrence of a tragedy such as this,” the Presidency said. He also praised rescue teams for their swift and professional response at the scene.
