Redcliffe temple collapse: Macpherson says preliminary probe reveals major construction lapses

Findings from the preliminary investigation into the four-storey building collapse at Redcliffe, Verulam point to “serious lapses” in construction, including concerns over structural integrity, substandard materials, and possible regulatory violations, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said on Wednesday.

It is understood that an extension under construction at the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection at River Range Ranch collapsed last Friday afternoon while concrete was being poured. Five people died.

The municipality has previously said that the structure did not have approved building plans.

Vic Panday, founder of the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection, senior devotee Vasudev Datta Das, electrician Jayseelan Perumal and an unidentified worker died in the collapse. 

The Post newspaper reported that Kishore Hurribhujan, a local farmer also died in the incident.

Macpherson, who stressed that the findings were preliminary in nature, explained that the structure was a reinforced concrete multi-storey building under construction that had concrete columns, flat slabs and masonry walls.

“The collapse occurred while concrete was being poured with reports indicating that work was underway on the upper levels of the building at the time of the incident. Preliminary evidence including available video footage point to a sudden structural failure most likely triggered by a formwork or shuttering failure during the pumping of wet concrete. It has also been observed that substandard concrete material and substandard reinforced columns were used.

“It is vitally important that we urgently track down the supplier and builder that used this material to stop this from happening anywhere else. Such a failure imposes significant and abnormal dynamic loads on the floors below, which no building is structurally designed to withstand, resulting in a rapid and progressive collapse,” Macpherson said.

He added that visual inspections raised concerns over misaligned structural elements and friable concrete, which will undergo further forensic testing.

“Of particular concern are indications that no approved building plans or construction permits were submitted and that the building may have been occupied without an occupational certificate. “In the absence of these submissions, the relevant authorities were deprived of the opportunity to inspect, monitor or intervene during this construction,” he said.

The site has been classified as a crime scene, he said.

Macpherson further confirmed that once recovery operations conclude, it will be handed over to the Department of Employment and Labour for statutory investigations alongside other authorities.

“The final determination of the precise failure mechanism will be made through the detailed forensic investigation, as multiple potential contributing factors remain under examination,” he said. “However, it is already clear from the preliminary findings that serious lapses occurred in the construction of this building.”

Macpherson outlined immediate measures recommended by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) to prevent similar incidents. These include detecting illegal building activities, requiring ready-mix concrete suppliers to notify municipalities when large volumes are delivered, and launching community campaigns on the importance of building approvals.

He added that President Cyril Ramaphosa had been briefed on the tragedy and “expressed his full support for the actions taken to date, including the steps to strengthen criminal investigation, technical oversight, and the coordinated response across the different spheres of government.”

Macpherson stressed the need for systemic reforms. “Responsibility for different aspects of building control, workplace safety, professional regulation, and enforcement is spread across multiple departments and spheres of government. When these systems do not operate in a fully coordinated manner, gaps emerge in oversight, compliance, and accountability.”

He further noted a troubling pattern of structural collapses in the eThekwini metro over the past decade, highlighting the urgency of examining whether governance failures contribute to repeated loss of life.

“The technical, criminal, and labour-related investigations are now underway and will proceed without interference and at speed,” Macpherson said. “Our focus remains clear and unwavering: to support affected families and communities, to ensure full accountability, and to prevent a tragedy of this nature from occurring again.”

The minister also acknowledged the work of emergency services and disaster management teams. “I want to formally acknowledge and thank our disaster management teams, emergency services, and first responders who worked tirelessly under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.”

THE MERCURY