Tragedy in Doornkop: building collapse kills three

Early on Sunday morning at approximately 03:00, emergency medical services (EMS) responded to reports of a double-storey building collapse in Doornkop. Upon arrival, rescuers confirmed that six people were inside the building at the time, with three trapped beneath the rubble.

City of Joburg EMS confirmed that emergency teams acted swiftly to extricate the trapped occupants. One patient sustained critical injuries and required immediate life-saving intervention on site. Another patient sustained serious injuries and was urgently transported to hospital, while a third patient sustained minor injuries and was stable after assessment, but was also transported for further evaluation.

Those taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital included an adult female with serious injuries, an adult female with minor injuries, and a child with minor injuries. Tragically, three lives were lost in the collapse: two adult females and one child. EMS has extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this devastating incident.

The scene has been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation to determine the cause of the structural failure.

This latest incident forms part of a worrying trend of building collapses in Gauteng in 2025. In January, a structural collapse in Lenasia resulted in one person being hospitalized after initially being reported as multiple casualties. In May, a building collapse in Randfontein claimed the life of one individual, occurring on the eve of the first anniversary of the George building tragedy. In August, a structural collapse in Sandton saw several people trapped, requiring the coordinated efforts of multiple emergency and rescue services.

In December, severe hailstorms caused part of the roof at Festival Mall to collapse on December 1, though no injuries were reported as the mall had been closed at the time.

Many major reports throughout 2025 have focused on ongoing investigations into the May 2024 George building collapse in the Western Cape, which claimed 34 lives. Findings from that disaster have prompted renewed calls for stricter regulatory oversight and enforcement in the Gauteng built environment to prevent similar tragedies.

Authorities have urged building owners and residents to adhere to safety standards and report any structural concerns immediately, stressing that the safety of occupants remains a priority. Investigations into the Doornkop collapse are ongoing, and officials are expected to release a report once preliminary findings have been established.

The community and emergency services continue to grapple with the aftermath, highlighting the ongoing challenges in ensuring the structural safety of buildings across the province.