All Congregants Accounted For

The search and rescue operation following the retaining wall collapse at eBuhleni Village, KwaShembe, in Inanda has been successfully concluded, with all eight affected church members rescued and accounted for.

No additional persons were found trapped, and no fatalities were reported.

The incident occurred yesterday, 13 July, when a retaining wall collapsed onto church members who were resting near the structure.

All eight injured congregants were rescued from the rubble and transported to hospital for medical treatment.

Two remain in a critical condition, while the remaining patients continue to receive medical care and support.

Emergency response teams, comprising the City’s Fire and Rescue Services, Metro Police, the South African Police Service, Emergency Medical Services, and other role players, worked tirelessly to ensure all affected persons were safely recovered.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, visited the site today, where he met with church leadership following the incident.

Expressing relief that no lives were lost, Minister Macpherson said: “Having visited the site, I share the belief of the Shembe Church that it is by the grace of God that no lives were lost. My thoughts and prayers remain with those recovering in hospital. We are committed to working with the church and built-environment professionals to strengthen construction practices, improve safety standards and help prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”

The Minister confirmed that the Council for the Built Environment will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse before any construction activities resume at the site.

EThekwini Municipality has welcomed the investigation and confirmed that it will work closely with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to support the redevelopment process, provide technical guidance, and promote compliance with applicable building regulations and safety standards.

A panel of engineers and architects is expected to be appointed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the site and provide recommendations to ensure the safe continuation of development while strengthening measures to prevent future structural failures.

Members of the public are reminded to report emergencies to the City’s Emergency Call Centre on 031 361 0000.