President Cyril Ramaphosa expects for an inquiry to bring answers after a two-storey building under construction collapsed in Ormonde on Monday, killing at least six construction workers and leaving others still trapped.
The structure gave way shortly after workers completed pouring a concrete slab for the second-floor deck.
Within seconds, tons of wet concrete and steel crashed down, burying labourers beneath the debris.
Twelve workers were on site when the building caved in. By Monday night, six had been declared dead. One worker was pulled out alive.
Two remain trapped in the rubble, while three are still unaccounted for as rescue teams race against fading time.
Emergency crews reportedly worked cutting through slabs and twisted metal in a painstaking operation at the site.
The site has been cordoned off as structural engineers and investigators begin assessing what caused the catastrophic failure.
In a statement, Ramaphosa conveyed his condolences to grieving families 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 urgency.
The story is developing.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
