How construction violations played a role in fatal Verulam building collapse

The recent collapse of a four-storey building near the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection in Redcliffe, Verulam, which was constructed without necessary approvals in eThekwini, has raised significant concerns over regulatory compliance within the municipality. 

The building collapsed on Friday, leaving five dead and several injured.

eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba said that between 2022 and 2023, the City received two building plans from the land trustees. 

The temple is situated on the River Range Ranch in Redcliffe. It is believed the property, which is home to the Vrindavan Eco Village, is owned by the Vick and Helena Panday Family Trust.

Vick Panday was one of the victims of the tragedy.

“Both applications were refused because the land on which construction was proposed was zoned as a conservation reserve,” Xaba said. 

“I also want to confirm that the four-storey building was erected without the necessary approvals from eThekwini Municipality, and unauthorised work was not observed during the course of construction and therefore no inspections were carried out.” 

Xaba added that ordinarily, they pick up unauthorised building works, issue a contravention notice, and then the remedial order, because they could not pick it up earlier.

Xaba noted the findings contained in the report and pledged to implement it to the letter of all recommendations. 

“Such incidents have no place in our city. It must never be allowed to happen again. As a leadership, we will support all efforts aimed at ensuring that those responsible are brought to book,” Xaba said. 

“This will send a strong message to would-be culprits that any similar transgressions will be made with the full might of the law.” 

eThekwini city manager Musa Mbhele said that there are about six buildings on the site, which were approved by the City. 

“The occupancy certificates were also issued for those buildings to be used in accordance with the approved building plans. That really reflects a duty of care on the City’s side,” Mbhele said. 

“We were very surprised this time around, why they went on to build a building under the cover of secrecy and do it within a period of about four to six months, and evade our capability to inspect, given the fact that the site is located within a conservation area, and it is zoned rural residential.”

Mbhele said they believed that once compliance was achieved in one building, the building of further sections continued without the requisite compliance.

"They were already encroaching into what we call the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System which is the conservation area that no one is permitted to build in except under very strict approval processes,” Mbhele said. 

KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer said several agencies responded immediately to Friday's tragedy. 

He said interventions included deep rescue preparation, heavy machinery and drone utilisation, establishing an on-site incident command, and technical advice from the Engineering Council of South Africa, the Council for the Built Environment, and the Construction Industry Development Board.

“As of the latest update, five fatalities have been confirmed. Several individuals have been rescued with minor to moderate injuries; six injuries have been reported. Four patients were transported to Osindisweni Hospital, whilst two to Victoria Hospital,” Meyer said. 

He said search and rescue teams had faced operational challenges, including unstable elements risking secondary collapse, extensive steel and concrete slowing penetration, limited cliffside access, and difficulties accounting for all workers due to a missing site register.

Meyer said the scene was handed over to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) since recoveries have been done. The DEL issued a prohibition notice on December 12, 2025, instructing the property owner not to remove, alter, or collapse the structure.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za