WATCH: Ormonde building collapse death toll climbs to 8 as search continues
Mayor Dada Morero confirms the structure had no approved building plans; one person is still believed to be trapped under rubble.
Emergency teams continued their search and rescue operation in Ormonde on Tuesday morning as they worked to find three people still unaccounted for following the collapse of a multi-story building on Amethyst Business Park, 9A Amethyst Street.
The City of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, visited the scene to assess progress and receive updates from rescue crews and city officials.
Search efforts and recovery
The City of Johannesburg confirmed that two more bodies were recovered from the rubble on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to eight.
@southern.courierMayor Dada Morero confirms the structure had no approved building plans; one person is still believed to be trapped under rubble. Full story on southerncourier.co.za
One person is still suspected to be trapped under the debris.
Families of the victims, which include both South African and foreign nationals, have been notified.
Earlier signs of illegal construction
Initial reports from Monday indicated that the building may have been constructed illegally.
Early investigations by city engineers found no approved building plans for the structure, raising concerns that the development did not meet safety and regulatory standards.
Residents in the area also reported hearing structural cracking sounds before the collapse, according to eyewitnesses.
City officials said preliminary inspections showed the building was not deemed structurally sound, fueling suspicions of unregulated construction activity.
City launches formal investigation
The City of Johannesburg has launched a formal investigation into the collapse. Officials are scheduled to meet with building inspectors to discuss safety enforcement and measures to prevent similar incidents across the city.
Mayor Morero emphasised that the investigation will determine the exact cause of the collapse and identify those responsible for any unlawful construction or negligence.
WATCH: Illegal construction suspected after no approved plans found in Ormonde collapse
