Florida’s falling tower puts lives at risk
Pastors of World Changers Church International raise concerns of a historical building tower in their premises that is on a verge of disastrous collapse.
A potential crisis is unfolding at the World Changers Church International premises in Florida, where a historical tower (referred to as an altar) is on the verge of collapse, posing a significant danger to congregants, motorists, a school and residents in the neighbourhood.
According to Pastor Anthonello Sibinda, the tower’s structural integrity was compromised in October 2023 when a pipe burst in 9th Avenue sending water underground, causing the foundation to shift and the building to crack partially and lean forward.
He says with the rainy season approaching, they are doing everything in their power to get the tower demolished before someone gets hurt, but the process is long and tedious.
“At first, we were told that the tower could be saved, and we spent more than R200 000 on engineers trying to save it, but efforts failed and it continued to lean.
“Building inspectors in Region C told us that this was a historical tower and we needed to go through the Heritage Foundation to get the building demolished,” says Sibinda.
Sibinda says in July they received feedback from the Heritage Foundation stating that they have no objection to having the building demolished but they would have to go through the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority Gauteng (PHRA-G) for permission.
“The application form with PHRA-G is very long and complicated, and we cannot fill those details by ourselves, but PHRA-G referred us to an expert who can assist us with the application form, but that person is charging us R13 000, which we cannot afford.
“The total cost to demolish the building is R695 000, and we simply cannot afford that as a church,” adds Sibinda.
The Roodepoort Record sent a list of questions to PHRA-G for comment, but by the time of going to print, none has been received.
