Johannesburg – Responding to the early morning deadly double-storey building collapse in Soweto, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has expressed “his deepest condolences” to affected families.
Emergency responders said they were alerted to the tragedy at about 03:00 am on Sunday, 28 December 2025.
On arrival at the scene, responders found that six people were trapped in the rubble.
At least three of the trapped people were declared deceased on the scene.
A one-year-old child was among the dead.
Three survivors were pulled out of the rubble and taken to the hospital.
A person close to the family said the grandmother who died in the building collapse was a community godsend who looked after needy children.
Commenting on the tragedy for the first time, Minister Macpherson said: “This is a deeply distressing incident.
“My thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and with all those who were injured as a result of this tragic collapse.
“As the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, we are committed to accountability and to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to strengthen safety and oversight across the construction sector, in order to protect both workers and the public.”
The Minister requested the Council for the Built Environment to investigate the building collapse to determine the cause, identify any responsible parties, and recommend actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Minister Macpherson said: “We will respect due process and will cooperate fully with all regulatory bodies throughout the investigation.
“The safety of construction workers and the public remains our utmost priority.”
The Minister emphasised that the investigation will be thorough, transparent, and conducted in full cooperation with regulatory authorities, reaffirming that the safety of construction workers and the public remains the Department’s highest priority.
“There will be a thorough investigation, and once all the facts have been established, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) said it has launched an “expert enquiry” into the building collapse.
DPWI Directorate-General, Sifiso Mdakane, said a team of professional investigators had been dispatched to assist in the investigation.
“The investigative team will be led by the Council for the Built Environment and will include engineers, architects, planners, and surveyors,” said Mdakane.
“Their mandate is to determine the causes of the collapse, identify responsible parties, and recommend decisive actions to prevent future tragedies.
“The team will work in collaboration with relevant regulatory and safety authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent inquiry.”
Mdakane said preliminary investigations have revealed serious breaches that compromise construction site work and have led to the loss of life.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected,” Mdakane said.
