New Order Investments responds to non-cooperation claims in Ormonde building collapse investigation

The owners of the Ormonde building, whose collapse on Monday caused the deaths of nine workers, have indicated that they are cooperating with the investigations. New Order Investments (Pty) Ltd, the developer of the building that collapsed on Monday in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, has publicly refuted reports asserting the owners’ non-cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of 12 workers, with some workers found trapped in the rubble, hours after the incident.

This disaster has sparked significant concern among officials, with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, and theCity of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero,issuing a stern warning against illegal activities in the construction sector. On Tuesday, Morero claimed that the owners were “at large”, noting that their cellphones have gone unanswered as emergency rescue operations unfolded on-site. “We continue to trace — remember, all we have now is the name of the company.

But we are still unable to reach the actual owners. We are doing so,” Morero had said. In response, New Order Investments has stated that its top priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of all individuals involved and to extend support to grieving families.

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In a statement released via their legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, the developers affirmed their commitment to a thorough investigation into the factors leading to the collapse. “New Order has appointed an independent professional team to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse,” Mnguni said.

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