The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal says preliminary reports confirm that no building plans were approved for the four-story temple that collapsed at Redcliffe in the Verulam area.
One person has been confirmed dead, and others are still trapped under the concrete rubble. Several construction workers were taken to the hospital.
It is alleged that the fully functional temple collapsed at the time when workers were placing an additional structure on top of the existing building.
Update on Structural Collapse Incident in Verulam, Durban
Eleven individuals (two females and nine males) have been successfully rescued and transported to the hospital for medical care.
Sadly, one person has passed away.https://t.co/WKK76mYQzp#ArriveAlive… pic.twitter.com/SDcHOrieFR
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 12, 2025
The Municipality’s Gugu Sisilana says eThekwini Municipality’s emergency services are actively supporting multi-disciplinary teams in a rescue operation following the collapse of the temple.
“One fatality and a few entrapments have been confirmed. The incident has resulted in several injuries and entrapments. Preliminary reports confirm that no building plans were approved for the structure, rendering it illegal. The Municipality will formally hand the matter over to the Department of Employment and Labour and will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant authorities to provide information that may assist the investigation.”
