4 victims of Verulam temple collapse laid to rest today
Funerals are underway today for four victims of the Verulam temple collapse, while authorities investigate possible safety and compliance failures at the site.
Funerals for four of the five men who died in the collapse of a four-storey structure at the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection in Redcliffe, Verulam, north of Durban, will be taking place today.
The Witness reports five bodies were recovered from the rubble over the weekend following an intensive search-and-rescue operation. The victims included two religious leaders, a farmer, an electrician and a construction worker.
A double funeral for temple founder Vickey Panday and senior devotee Vasudeva Das Prabhu is expected to take place near the site of the collapse.
The deadly incident occurred last Friday afternoon when a four-storey structure under construction, intended as an extension to the main temple building, collapsed without warning. The existing temple was not affected.
Those whose identities have been confirmed by The Witness are Panday, Vasudev Das Prabhu and Jayseelan Perumal. The identities of the remaining two victims are expected to be formally confirmed once all processes have been concluded.
Meanwhile, the Council of the Built Environment (CBE) has finalised its preliminary investigation into the collapse.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson is expected to brief the media on Tuesday, when the findings will be formally presented by CBE chief executive officer Dr Msizi Myeza.
Macpherson will be joined by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi, MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure Martin Meyer, and eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba.
The eThekwini Municipality has previously indicated that preliminary information suggested the collapsed structure did not have approved building plans, rendering it illegal.
In addition to the CBE probe, the Department of Labour is conducting a separate investigation into the incident.
Authorities have indicated that the combined investigations are expected to provide a clearer picture of the circumstances and possible failures that led to the collapse.
As the community mourns the loss of five men, questions remain around safety, compliance and accountability at the site.
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