Minister Macpherson Calls for Urgent Review of Building Safety Oversight After Ormonde Tragedy

Article and Pictures by Caroline Mokotedi

04 March 2026

The Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the nine people who lost their lives in the partial collapse of a building in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg.

Minister Macpherson visited the site on 3 March 2026 Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by City of Johannesburg Emergency Services and officials from the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, to assess the situation and offer support to affected families.

He was also joined by Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and Dr Msizi Myeza, Chief Executive Officer of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), which has been mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The CBE, responsible for regulating professionals in the built environment sector, will determine whether the collapse was linked to professional negligence, breaches of mandatory standards, or misconduct.

Speaking at the site, Minister Macpherson described the tragedy as deeply concerning, particularly as it marks the third building collapse in the past three months. He emphasised that such incidents should never be regarded as normal. “Buildings are not designed to fail. When they do, it signals that something has gone seriously wrong. We are committed to uncovering the truth and will make the findings public once the investigation is complete. Anyone found responsible will be held accountable,” he said.

The Minister further indicated that he will fast-track discussions at national level, including engagement with the Minister of Human Settlements, to examine whether weaknesses exist in the current regulatory and enforcement framework. He stressed that strengthening oversight and improving compliance within the construction sector is essential to preventing similar tragedies in future. Reaffirming government’s commitment to safe and accountable infrastructure development, Minister Macpherson said collaborative efforts will be key to restoring public confidence and ensuring that building safety remains a national priority.