Emergency services rushed to the scene on the corners of Cowen Ntuli- and Meyer Street where their fears of having pedestrians trapped underneath the rubble, miraculously proved to be false.

Seconds before the collapse, people were seen passing underneath the canopy crowning Plastic King, the CD shop and hair salon, which neighbour each other.

Luckily they were all clear of danger when the corner wall and roof collapsed onto the pavement, scattering bricks into the congested street which had to be closed shortly after 12:00 for motorists’ safety.

The building belongs to mother and daughter team, Ronel and Rolen Erasmus, who decided to close shop till after the long weekend, before rebuilding the canopy which Ronel’s son WJ says, gave in.

“Speculation that the building will have to be demolished because it’s too old and that corners were cut during the erection of the canopy, is laughable,” WJ told the Observer.

He says that no structural damage was incurred and that only the steel frame upon which the canopy was erected, had collapsed alongside the canopy roof.

Building inspector, Mr Buks Olivier, told the Observer that parts of the salon walls will have to be rebuilt though the structural damage was confined to that particular part of the two buildings separated by a fire wall.

“If the canopy is to be rebuilt, the owners will have to go a lot lighter,” Mr Olivier said confirming WJ’s suspicions that the canopy was too heavy.

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Mr Olivier however did confirm that the structures are old and that a number of cracks in Plastic King’s walls will also have to be looked at alongside the roofs of all three shops.

He says that once all buildings have been cleared of debris, the municipality would conduct a thorough inspection.

Fire chief, Mr Gert Stoltz says he heard that one part of the building is more than 80-years old and a second part over a century.

He expressed his relief alongside Mr Erasmus that no one was injured.

“We will consult with our insurance team, and work together with the municipality on a way forward,” Mr Erasmus said.