Tragedy in Doornkop: foundation steps in after fatal house collapse

As the Doornkop family in Soweto continues to receive outpourings of support from city officials and organizations, the tragic circumstances surrounding their loss become more clear. 

The Collen Mashawana Foundation has stepped in to assist the family after a double-storey house collapse claimed the lives of three relatives, including a one-year-old.

City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero confirmed that the building was illegally constructed and never approved. 

“This place in itself was an illegal structure, which was not supposed to be there in the first place,” he said, underscoring the deadly consequences of illegal settlements in unsafe areas.

The tragedy claimed the lives of three family members, 60-year-old woman, a 24-year-old woman, and a toddler. Six people were inside the house at the time of the collapse, Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (JEMS) reported. 

Emergency crews arrived shortly after 3 a.m., rescuing three people from the rubble and transporting them to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. “Two adult women and a child survived, but three of our family members did not make it,” said one relative, speaking to The Star.

The house, which accommodated up to 13 permanent residents, had been occupied by the family since 2021. 

“We didn’t build the house; we found it empty and moved in because we had nowhere else to go,” the family said. 

They added that the structure appeared stable before it collapsed. Relatives who were visiting for the holidays were away at the time of the disaster.

The Mashawana Foundation’s intervention has brought much-needed relief. 

“We are covering funeral arrangements, supplying building materials, and providing immediate essentials like groceries and blankets,” the foundation said.

They added that within four weeks, they aimed to hand over a structurally sound, fully furnished home for the family.

Foundation patron Mashawana said the intervention was urgent, stressing that the family meets all the criteria for immediate assistance.

“The family fully qualifies for immediate assistance, and we will ensure they are supported in every possible way. Through a partnership with Baroka Funerals, the foundation is also covering burial arrangements, while working with stakeholders to provide trauma counseling,” he said.

Morero emphasised the city’s responsibility in the wake of the tragedy.

“Unfortunately, death has happened, and we are now responsible to ensure that we give support to the family that has been affected,” he said. 

He revealed that the city plans to relocate residents from the area, describing it as unsafe and unsuitable for human settlement due to its dolomitic nature. 

“This area is unsafe. It is dolomitic, so it is not feasible for human settlement,” Morero warned.

He also highlighted the city’s struggles with illegal reoccupation, undocumented foreign nationals, and land invasions. 

“People should also know that we will not be able to allow them to continue to act illegally and reoccupy the place,” he said. Turning to the broader crisis of hijacked and unsafe buildings, Morero said enforcement efforts remain a major challenge.

“We remove people from hijacked and unsafe places, but they keep coming back and occupying those spaces illegally,” he said, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law and stretch municipal resources.

Morero’s comments come at a time when the city is grappling with the twin challenges of illegal settlements and hijacked buildings.

The Star

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