Ballito residents and local leaders are demanding urgent government action, nearly a year after two fatal construction incidents claimed the lives of five workers and left dangerous sites unattended.

The first incident occurred on May 8 last year, when a contractor drowned in Salt Rock after a burst water pipe caused a trench to collapse and fill with water. The site remains closed, with Siza Water confirming that no work can resume until the Department of Labour concludes its investigation.

Just ten days later, on May 18, four construction workers were killed when a partially built structure collapsed at a construction site on Zen Drive, Ballito. That site also remains untouched, with no visible progress on repairs or improved safety measures.

Ward 6 councillor Ayabonga Zwane and Ballito Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Morné Steffens say the delays are unacceptable and pose ongoing safety and security risks to the community.

“We have a growing problem with vagrants in the area. That unfinished house is one of several locations where stolen items are hidden, and some people are using it as a shelter,” said Steffens.

Zwane voiced concern about the structural safety of the Zen Drive site, particularly after heavy rains in recent months.

“The embankment continues to erode, and the road could eventually be affected,” he said.

“The municipality last told me they were still waiting on the labour department’s findings. That was some time ago.”

Residents are also calling for closure for the families of the deceased, who continue to wait for answers nearly 12 months later.

Despite multiple requests, the Department of Labour had not responded at the time of publication.

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