Sheppie cops help in Tongaat mall disaster

THE Port Shepstone SAPS search and rescue unit, together with other emergency services, worked around the clock to locate construction workers trapped when a shopping mall under construction in Tongaat, north of Durban, collapsed on Tuesday this week. According to news reports, the shopping mall’s roof collapsed, killing at least one person and injuring about 30 others.

Police spokesman Captain Vincent Pandarum said Sergeant Rommel da Rosa with his K9 partner Kim, and Constable Joseph Cele with K9 partner Ronda, were sent to assist. “Members from the Port Shepstone K9 search and rescue unit are working with the Durban search and rescue unit and other emergency personnel to help find victims who may be trapped in the collapsed building,” he said yesterday (Wednesday).

It was also reported that the eThekwini deputy mayor, Nomvuzo Shabalala, told reporters at the scene that construction at the shopping mall should not have been taking place. “We took them [the contractors] to court a month ago as they had not followed processes. We thought they had stopped work,” she said.