Fatal building collapses in Johannesburg and Giza trigger urgent safety investigations

A formal investigation has been launched following the collapse of a double-storey building under construction in Doornkop, Johannesburg, on 28 December 2025. The incident resulted in three fatalities, including a child, and three serious injuries, with six occupants inside the structure at the time of failure.

South Africa’s Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure instructed the Council for the Built Environment to determine the technical causes of the collapse, identify accountability, and recommend corrective actions. Preliminary findings indicate serious breaches of construction safety and regulatory compliance, raising concerns over inadequate oversight during the construction phase. A dedicated investigative team has been deployed to support a transparent, multi-agency technical review.

The incident forms part of a wider regional pattern of structural failures. Just days earlier, a five-storey residential building collapsed in Imbaba, Giza Governorate, killing eight people and damaging adjacent properties. Egyptian authorities confirmed that unlicensed modifications and regulatory violations are central to the ongoing forensic engineering assessment.

Both incidents highlight recurring systemic risks associated with unauthorised alterations, deficient quality control, and weak enforcement of building regulations. These failures underscore the critical importance of compliance with structural design approvals, construction supervision, and inspection regimes, particularly in high-density urban environments where collapse consequences are severe.