PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER DEAN MACPHERSON VISITS SITE OF SHEMBE WALL COLLAPSE
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DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, alongside eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, conducted an urgent site visit on Tuesday to the Nazareth Baptist (Shembe) Church in eBuhleni Village, Inanda.
The visit follows the structural collapse of an approximately 18-meter-long concrete retaining wall on Monday afternoon. The structure collapsed while workers and congregants were resting near the site.
Rescue Operation and Casualty Update
An intensive, multi-agency search and rescue operation—involving the eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services, SAPS, K9 units, and Metro Search and Rescue—was deployed immediately following the incident.
12 Injuries Reported: A total of twelve congregants were injured and transported to local medical facilities for treatment.
Current Status: Four patients remain hospitalized, while the others have since been treated and discharged. One patient is expected to undergo surgery.
No Fatalities: Emergency teams officially called off the search after digging through the rubble to confirm that no additional persons remained trapped beneath the sand.
Two-Pronged Structural Investigation Launched
Following constructive consultations with the Nazareth Baptist Church elders, Minister Macpherson announced that all construction activities at the site have been halted.
Two separate investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the failure:
Council for the Built Environment (CBE): The Minister confirmed that the church has welcomed a formal investigation by the CBE. This probe will evaluate structural standards and design compliance before any rebuilding is permitted to resume.
Internal Church Investigation: Reverend Mbongwa Nzama announced that the Nazareth Baptist Church is launching its own internal inquiry to ascertain exactly what went wrong during the construction of the accommodation block.
Additionally, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is liaising with the eThekwini Municipality to verify the building plans, regulatory approvals, and land preparation processes associated with the project.
Preventing Future Structural Failures
Minister Macpherson stated that the engagement at eBuhleni forms part of wider government consultations regarding the recently approved Integrated Social Facilitation Framework. This nationwide initiative aims to curb building collapses by improving coordination between different spheres of government, local communities, and the private construction sector.
"Having visited the site of the collapse today, I share the belief of the Shembe Church that it is by the grace of God that no lives were lost... 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." — Minister Dean Macpherson
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