Ministerial probe launched into disturbing Doornkop building collapse

Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, donned the collapse of a two-storey house located in Soweto, Doornkop, as a “deeply distressing incident,” and has urgently requested the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse, to determine its cause, identify any responsible parties, and recommend appropriate actions to prevent similar incidents in future.

After conveying his deepest condolences to the Xaba family, where three fatalities of a one-year-old child and two women aged 60 and 24, transpired, Macpherson insisted that the investigation should be done thoroughly and conducted with full cooperation with the relevant regulatory authorities.

It has been confirmed by the Department of Public Works that the minister has reaffirmed that the safety of construction workers and the public remains the department’s highest priority. He further corroborated this by stating that the appropriate action will be taken once all the facts have been established.

“This is a deeply distressing incident. My thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and with all those who were injured as a result of this tragic collapse.

“As the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, we are committed to accountability and to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to strengthen safety and oversight across the construction sector, to protect both workers and the public,” said Macpherson.

Meanwhile, the executive mayor of the city of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, has vowed to relocate affected families to safer locations to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented.

Morero further highlighted that the building has been constructed in a dolomitic area, where residents had been previously relocated, yet residents later returned and rebuilt.

Furthermore, the MMC for Economic Development, Nomoya Mnisi, recently visited the scene to pay condolences to the Xaba family and has confirmed that various foundations, with the aid of the city of Johannesburg, will cover funeral costs, tombstone and will also provide food parcels.