JOHANNESBURG - A building collapse in the south of Johannesburg has
become the latest structural failure resulting in loss of life.
Nine people were killed when the building, which was under construction, collapsed on Monday.
During an inspection of the site, Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, said the building was not structurally sound. He also revealed that the building had no formal plans.
This means that city by-laws and building controls were flouted.
The remaining structure is set to be demolished.
This incident adds to a long list of buildings which were found to have flouted construction rules or declared structurally unsound.
In 2024, a building collapse in George in the Western Cape killed 34 people.
In December, five people were killed and several injured when a temple collapsed in Verulam in KwaZulu-Natal.
Preliminary investigations found that the building collapsed while concrete was being poured.
Evidence from video footage pointed to a sudden structural failure, most likely triggered by the collapse of temporary wet concrete moulds.
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There were also concerns about the quality of building materials used and poor craftmanship which included misaligned structural elements.
An investigation found there were no approved building plans, no construction permits and the building may have been occupied prior to the issuance of an occupational certificate.
According to structural engineer, Ernst Wolfaardt, rushing to complete a multi-story construction project can compromise structural integrity as each level must be allowed to set.
Under Occupational Health and Safety Construction Regulations, older buildings must undergo annual inspections by the municipality.
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'If it's not done regularly, it could affect your insurance claims' says Wolfaardt.
He stresses that workmanship and the materials used will assist in investigations.