By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Ethekwini municipality has confirmed that the death toll in the collapse of a four-storey Redcliffe temple in Verulam, Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) has risen to 3.
The municipality said in a statement on Saturday that search and rescue teams have now recovered three bodies in total from the rubble of the collapsed four-storey temple building. The building had been under construction at the time of the collapse.
“Emergency services remain on site, working alongside multi-disciplinary teams to intensify rescue operations. The search continues for possible further entrapments.
“The cause of the collapse is still under investigation. Preliminary reports indicate the structure had no approved building plans, rendering it illegal.”
“Further updates will be issued as soon as verified information becomes available, in line with the municipality’s commitment to public safety and accountability,” the municipality said.
Mayor Cyril Xaba visited the scene on Friday night, offering condolences to the bereaved families.
Xaba said that the collapse is under investigation and if there is a need for consequence management, action would be taken.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson along with several provincial MECs, are expected to visit the site to assess the situation and meet with emergency personnel.
On Thursday, Macpherson reported that since a pact was signed at a national construction summit in Durban, in November last year, more than 700 cases related to the so-called construction mafia have been lodged.
He added that at least 250 people have been arrested in connection with these complaints.
Macpherson said with greater police involvement, significant progress has been made to lessen the grip of the construction mafia on government building sites.
He said construction companies have reported regaining 80% of the construction hours previously lost to work stoppages caused by the interference on projects.