Editor’s Note: Despite reports yesterday that three people had been killed it has now been confirmed that only one person, a pregnant woman in her twenties, has been confirmed dead. So far 29 people have been rescued, with 11 critically injured and 18 having sustained minor injuries. 

A woman and two men have been confirmed dead and 18 people rescued alive from the rubble since Tongaat’s new mall collapsed on construction workers this afternoon.

Between 20 and 50 people are feared dead after two floors of the mall caved in, burying the workers, at about 4.30pm.

According to SAPS spokesperson Capt Thulani Zwane the search for survivors will continue throughout the night as rescue workers need to move over 100 meters of concrete to reach those trapped in the rubble.

A car was also buried in the rubble.

Health MEC Sbongisni Dlomo has just arrived at the scene to access the situation.

The railway has been closed to allow emergency workers to attend to the injured as the only access to the rubble is over the railway tracks.

The R102 and some streets in Tongaat –from Ganie Street to Moreland- have also been closed.

The public is being requested to use the N2 via the Watson Highway in order to get to Verulam.

The mall is owned by owners of Waterloo Superspar and leasing agent Neil Cocker told the Courier earlier this year that the mall was set to open in May next year.

The mall is expected to be at least 15 000 square metres and will house 40 retail stores.

Intended key tenants include Spar, Clicks, Pep, Ackermans, Jet and Mr Price, as well as Absa Bank and Standard Bank.