Council for the Built Environment

Built World

Conducting investigation into Soweto collapse, facing reform proposals

Three people died when a two-story building in Soweto collapsed before dawn on December 28, crushing a one-year-old child and two adults beneath rubble. Three others were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Africa's largest hospital. It was South Africa's third deadly building collapse in seven months—42 people have died total, all in structures that should never have been standing. Within 24 hours, Minister Dean Macpherson dispatched professional investigators to the scene and ordered the Council for Built Environment to determine cause, identify responsible parties, and recommend preventative measures.

Updated Dec 29, 2025