Following the collapse of a retaining wall at eBuhleni Village, KwaShembe, in Inanda, the search and rescue operation has successfully concluded, with all eight affected church members safely rescued and accounted for.
The injured congregants were rescued from the rubble and transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
Two remain in a critical condition, while the remaining patients continue to receive medical care and support.
The incident occurred on Monday, when a retaining wall collapsed onto church members who were resting near the structure. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, and no further individuals were found trapped under the rubble.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, visited the site on Tuesday, where he met with church leadership following the incident.
search and rescue operation has successfully concluded at Inanda.search and rescue operation has successfully concluded at Inanda.
Expressing relief that there were no fatalities, Minister Macpherson said: “Having visited the site, I share the belief of the Shembe Church that it is by the grace of God that no lives were lost. My thoughts and prayers remain with those recovering in hospital.”
He highlighted their dedication to collaborating with the church and built-environment experts to improve construction methods, elevate safety guidelines, and prevent future tragedies of this nature.
The Minister confirmed that the Council for the Built Environment will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse before any construction activities resume at the site.
Welcoming the inquiry, eThekwini Municipality confirmed that it will collaborate closely with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. This partnership aims to assist the redevelopment efforts, offer technical assistance, and ensure strict adherence to safety standards and building regulations.
To ensure development can safely continue and to implement stronger preventative measures against future structural failures, a panel of architects and engineers is expected to be appointed. This panel will conduct a thorough assessment of the site and deliver key recommendations.
Somerset Mall and surrounding areas in Cape Town have been without electricity for three consecutive days after theft of high-voltage electrical infrastructure.Eskom said the outage, which began earlier this week, was caused by significant damage to its network following the theft of critical electrical infrastructure. The incident has disrupted power supply to the shopping centre and nearby industrial areas, affecting businesses, employees and customers.Eskom said its technical teams have been working […]
