President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to the families of six people killed in a building collapse in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg. Rescue efforts continue at the site, where three bodies have been recovered and three others remain missing. Authorities confirmed the construction was illegal due to lack of approved plans.
A two-storey building at the Amethyst Business Park in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, collapsed on March 2, 2026, resulting in six deaths. According to emergency services, three bodies were retrieved from the rubble, while three others are believed to be trapped. Three survivors were pulled from the debris, with one receiving hospital treatment for injuries.
President Cyril Ramaphosa conveyed his sympathies to the victims' families through spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. "The President’s thoughts also go out to survivors, some of whom are still trapped in the rubble of the business park premises," Magwenya stated. He added that Ramaphosa expects an inquiry into the collapse to provide answers and help prevent future tragedies.
The City of Johannesburg's MMC for Public Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, announced that investigators will examine compliance with construction regulations. The city confirmed no approved building plans existed, indicating illegal construction. Tshwaku emphasized the need to verify inspections: "We need to check because at a certain stage of construction, an inspector must go out with a drawing from an engineer (that is) approved... He must take that drawing and come on site at frequent times during the stage of construction."
Rescue operations persist at the site as authorities work to recover the remaining victims and determine the cause of the incident.
