Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) expresses its deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragic building collapse in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, this week.
“No family should have to endure such a preventable loss. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating incident,” says CESA CEO Chris Campbell.
Nevertheless, as a nation, we must face a tough but necessary question: how much longer will we keep saying “sorry” after lives are lost, without addressing the systemic failures that enable these tragedies?
South Africa does not lack building regulations, explains Campbell. “We have established processes, professional standards, and statutory requirements designed to protect lives. The challenge lies not in the absence of oversight frameworks, but in the consistent enforcement, public awareness, and institutional capacity required to make them work.”
When constructing even a modest building, there is a clear process that must be followed:
- Engaging appropriately qualified professionals, such as architects and engineers
- Submitting building plans for approval
- Receiving formal municipal approval before construction begins
- Ensuring inspections take place during the building process.
“These safeguards exist for a reason. They are not bureaucratic hurdles; they are life-saving measures,” Campbell emphasises.
CESA believes that the issue is threefold:
- Lack of knowledge or awareness: Do property owners and developers fully understand the processes that must be followed? Has sufficient public education been undertaken to ensure this institutional knowledge is widely understood?
- Deliberate non-compliance: In some cases, there may be a conscious decision to bypass established systems and regulations, placing cost or convenience above safety.
- Capacity constraints within local government: Municipalities are responsible for reviewing building plans, conducting inspections, and enforcing compliance. Are they adequately resourced and staffed with the requisite skills to fulfil this mandate effectively? Are there enough qualified building inspectors to ensure ongoing oversight once construction begins?
“We have observed a gradual decline in technical capacity within some, if not most, local authorities. If enforcement mechanisms are weakened, whether by understaffing, lack of expertise, or ineffective monitoring, the entire system becomes susceptible,” adds Campbell.
He believes that South Africa does not need a complete overhaul of oversight structures in the built environment, as the regulatory framework itself is solid. What is urgently required is:
- Stronger enforcement of existing regulations
- Improved public awareness of mandatory building processes
- Consequence management for deliberate non-compliance
- Adequate capacitation of municipal departments responsible for plan approvals and inspections.
Campbell asserts that accountability must span the entire value chain, from property owners and developers to professionals and municipal authorities.
This tragedy must serve as a turning point. The affected families deserve more than mere condolences; they need assurance that meaningful corrective actions will be implemented. We must prevent preventable building failures from becoming recurring headlines. Lives depend on a functioning system and on all stakeholders fulfilling their responsibilities within it.
As CESA, we are prepared to support efforts that enhance compliance, uphold professional standards, and rebuild public trust in the integrity of our built environment,” Campbell concludes.
