Twelve people were injured, four of whom remain in hospital, after a wall collapsed at the Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe Church) complex in Inanda on Monday afternoon, prompting a government-backed investigation into the incident.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson visited the site on Tuesday, where he met church elders and pledged support for efforts to determine the cause of the collapse and strengthen building safety measures.
According to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the church has welcomed a further investigation by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) before construction resumes at the complex.
Macpherson said it was fortunate that no lives were lost in the incident.
“Having visited the site of the collapse today, I share the belief of the Shembe Church that it is by the grace of God that no lives were lost when the wall collapsed,” he said.
The minister extended his sympathies to those injured and said he would personally visit those still receiving treatment in hospital.
“I extend my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to those injured in the collapse and will visit them in hospital personally to wish them well in their recovery,” he said.
The visit forms part of broader consultations linked to the recently announced Integrated Social Facilitation Framework, a government initiative aimed at improving stakeholder engagement and preventing future building collapses.
Macpherson said his department would work with the church and the CBE to improve construction standards and safety.
“This morning, I also committed to the church elders that we would work with the church, through the Council for the Built Environment, to strengthen building practices, prevent future collapses and ensure the safety of buildings at the church and across the country,” he said.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established and investigations are expected to continue before any construction work resumes at the site.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said it remains committed to strengthening regulations and working with stakeholders to prevent similar incidents and protect lives.
