The double-storey house that collapsed in Doornkop, Soweto on 28 December 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda / The Citizen Tragedy struck in the early hours of Sunday when a double-storey house collapsed in Doornkop, Soweto, killing three people, including a one-year-old child. The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Services (EMS) reported that six people were inside the building when it gave way, with authorities receiving the emergency call around 3am.
Rescue teams managed to free three individuals trapped in the rubble, who were immediately transported to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for medical treatment. However, despite efforts to save them, two women and a one-year-old child died after sustaining severe injuries. The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, with the incident referred to the relevant authorities for further examination.
The Soweto incident comes just two weeks after a deadlybuilding collapse in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). On 12 December, a four-storey Hindu temple under construction in Redcliffe, north of Durban, collapsed, trapping workers under debris. Initial findings suggested that the building in Verulam was constructed illegally, lacking approved building plans. The South African Police Service (Saps) opened an inquest into the incident.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
