By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: ALS.
The Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has called for stricter enforcement of safety regulations, warning that contractors and site managers cannot afford to ignore basic safety procedures.
This follows the structural collapse in Monty Naicker Street in the Durban CBD occurred during ongoing renovation work at a workshop facility used as a parking area.
The collapse occurred at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon, with 70 construction workers on site. Five workers were rescued after they were injured.
The preliminary report indicate the wall collapsed during construction work involving a jackhammer and a sledgehammer.
Buthelezi says the incidents should serve as a stark reminder that safety on construction sites is non-negotiable.
He has urged all contractors, developers, and construction companies to ensure strict adherence to occupational health and safety protocols to prevent further injuries and loss of life.
The latest collapse in the Durban CBD comes just two weeks after another construction-related incident in Ballito, where two workers became trapped when a sand bank collapsed at a property on David Place.
The men were pinned from the knees down during the incident and emergency crews spent nearly an hour working to free them safely from the rubble. One of the workers suffered serious injuries and required advanced life support treatment before being transported to hospital.
The recent incidents have once again raised concerns around safety standards and compliance on construction and renovation sites across KZN.