The body of the missing construction worker was recovered this morning during the rescue operation at the Tongaat mall construction site.

He was found under a concrete pillar after slabs of concrete had been removed by heavy machinery.

“It took almost 30 minutes to cut his body free of reinforcing with hydraulic equipment,” said Quinton Power of Ballito’s Specialised Rescue Unit.

The rescue was a combined effort of the police rescue team, Ballito’s Specialised Rescue Unit, Netcare 911 and the Etekweni fire department.

Police have confirmed that the 51-year-old man’s body was recovered, bringing the death count to two.

A woman was killed and 29 people injured when the mall collapsed on Tuesday.
On Thursday, police said only one person remained unaccounted for.

However, they could not rule out the possibility that others were buried beneath the slab that collapsed, so the rescue effort will continue.

“Thank you to the Tongaat community for coming together and organising food and refreshments to the rescuers during the entire operation,” said Power.