Engineers and building control officials are investigating the structural integrity of a business park building that collapsed on Monday afternoon.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
City of Johannesburg city manager, Floyd Brink says an initial investigation has found no evidence of approved building plans for the structure that collapsed in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, killing six people.
Speaking at the scene on Monday night, Brink said preliminary findings indicated the required development framework and building approvals were not in place for the building at the Sixth Amethyst Business Park.
“We cannot seem to find any form of approved plans because in an area like this, you should have had an SDF (Spatial Development Framework) as well as other approved building plans,” he said.
Brink said 15 people were inside the building at the time of the collapse.
An initial investigation into a deadly building collapse in southern Johannesburg has found no record of approved development or building plans, the city manager Floyd Brink told the media at the scene.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Six people were declared dead and six were transported to hospital. Three remain unaccounted for.
Engineers and building control officials are assessing the structural integrity of the site while rescue teams continue search operations.
“We are trying our best for our teams to work around the clock, but at some point if it becomes unsafe for them to do so, we will have to call it off and then continue again in the morning,” Brink said.
He confirmed the matter had been handed over to police. The city has obtained the name of the contractor but has been unable to locate the contractor, engineers or the building owner.
“There will definitely be consequences,” Brink said. He added that action would also be taken against any City of Johannesburg officials found to be involved.
City officials say there is no evidence of approved building plans for the structure that collapsed in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, killing six people, as rescue teams continue searching for three missing individuals.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Earlier, Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said rescue crews were called to a structural collapse at the business park on Monday afternoon.
She described the rescue operation as complex and dangerous, with parts of the building continuing to cave in.
“It’s quite intricate because the building itself is not stable. Some parts of the structure are caving in as we speak,” Khumalo said.
“We are being very cautious to ensure that rescue teams inside are not caught in another collapse.”
The cause of the collapse is not yet known, and authorities have not confirmed the nature of the building.
“At this stage, we do not have information on whether the building was operating as a factory,” Khumalo previously said.
“We will have more information once we locate the building owner, whom we have not yet met.”
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