By Levy Masiteng
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba has deployed a multidisciplinary technical team to oversee all construction projects at the Nazareth Baptist Church in eBuhleni Village, Inanda, following the collapse of a retaining wall that injured eight congregants earlier this week.
The eThekwini Municipality said the team was deployed on Wednesday evening after Xaba visited the church with Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni, municipal councillors and senior officials.
The intervention follows the collapse of an approximately 18-metre retaining wall shortly before midday on Monday while congregants were seated near the structure during a church gathering.
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The wall collapsed without warning, trapping worshippers beneath rubble and soil and triggering a major rescue operation involving eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services and other emergency response agencies.
All eight injured congregants were rescued and transported to hospital for treatment. Rescue teams later confirmed that no one remained trapped beneath the debris after an extensive search of the site.
Two of the injured were initially reported to be in a critical condition, while the remaining victims sustained less severe injuries. No fatalities were reported.
“While we are saddened by this unfortunate incident, we are grateful that no lives were lost. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the injured and their families,” Xaba said.
The municipality said the technical intervention is aimed at strengthening compliance with engineering, building and safety standards to prevent similar incidents.
The multidisciplinary team will provide construction oversight, engineering support, building inspections, emergency services coordination and other technical assistance to ensure all projects on the church premises comply with relevant legislation and safety requirements.
The Nazareth Baptist Church welcomed the municipality’s intervention and committed to working with the City to improve safety and prevent a recurrence.
The deployment comes amid growing calls for accountability over the collapse.
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Earlier this week, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced that the Council for the Built Environment would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, while church leadership also committed to conducting an internal inquiry before construction resumes.
Xaba said the technical team would work closely with church leadership to monitor ongoing and future construction projects.
“The technical team will provide the necessary guidance and oversight because we want to ensure full compliance with engineering, building and safety requirements,” he said.
