Six people have died and several others remain unaccounted for after a first-floor concrete slab gave way at a two-storey building in Amethyst Business Park, in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, on Monday, March 2, 2026. The collapse destroyed the building’s internal floor, producing a major structural failure that emergency teams continue to work to stabilise.
Initial reports from the Johannesburg MMC for public safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, said the slab collapse left six people dead, two others trapped, three reported missing and one rescued. Later updates from the scene said one person had been rushed to hospital, two remained trapped, and five people were still missing as search and rescue operations pressed on. Tshwaku described the incident as "devastating" and said "our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this devastating incident."
Tshwaku said preliminary reports indicated the concrete slab which divided the building into two storeys gave way, causing the major structural failure, but the precise cause remains unknown. He praised emergency teams, saying "the rapid and coordinated response from both public and private emergency services is commendable, including paramedics, firefighters and search and rescue teams. Their dedication and professionalism in the face of this crisis are exemplary." He warned that in at least one case a slab landed on a limb, creating the possibility of amputation for an injured person.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to allow crews to work, and have said a thorough investigation will begin once all individuals are accounted for. Search and rescue efforts will continue around the clock and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
