China Mall in Springfield Park, Durban, was subject to an inspection by the Department of Labour earlier this week. The scrutiny was propelled by a widely circulated video that displayed structural steel props being employed within various shops in the mall, raising urgent questions about the safety standards of the ongoing construction,The Mercuryreported. Another voiced frustration with what they perceive as protracted enforcement, demanding an immediate shutdown of the building for its alleged non-compliance.
Amid mounting pressure, Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, along with a team of inspectors and eThekwini Mayor Xaba, conducted an inspection of the mall on December 30. They found that the construction had continued unabated on the first and second floors, despite a prohibition notice issued in February 2025 that explicitly forbade any work until specific conditions were satisfied. During the inspection, officials reportedly uncovered newly installed beams and additional structures on these prohibited floors, alongside numerous Occupational Health and Safety violations.
The structural frailties identified included floors constructed of shutter boards rather than the required concrete slabs, compounded by the glaring absence of essential load testing on the foundation of the newly added levels. Such oversights potentially jeopardise not only the building itself but also the safety of its occupants and visitors. As a result of these violations, the DEL swiftly issued a second prohibition notice and announced intentions to pursue legal action against the owners for their non-adherence to the previous directive.
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The department underscored the importance of compliance with these notices, describing them as a legal obligation crucial for ensuring safety in construction practices. “The department will not allow any building collapse to continue in our country just because people are taking shortcuts,” the DEL stated.
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