Rosebank, Johannesburg – The Department of Employment and Labour is currently awaiting investigation and structural reports from the Southern Sun hotel following a ceiling collapse incident on Monday. The collapse, described as “near fatal,” has prompted a thorough examination by the department’s officials to determine the next steps.
According to South African Government News Agency, a team of inspectors led by Inspector General Aggy Moiloa visited the Southern Sun Hotel in Rosebank to ascertain the causes of the ceiling collapse. In response to the incident, the Department’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch initiated a national blitz of Southern Sun hotels across South Africa. This operation, starting on Wednesday, involves dozens of inspectors conducting thorough inspections at various Southern Sun establishments.
The department’s team visited the incident site on Tuesday and issued a prohibition notice on the hotel’s restaurant area, where the collapse occurred. They also served a contravention notice and requested a structural report from the hotel. Southern Sun has been given a seven-day deadline to provide all necessary documentation and 60 days to repair the affected area.
During Wednesday’s site visit, Inspector General Moiloa, accompanied by Chief Inspector Milly Ruiters and other senior officials, emphasized the department’s role in assisting businesses to comply with legislation following such incidents. The visiting team included inspectors responsible for enforcing the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety, Unemployment Insurance Act, and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
Southern Sun Operations Director, Andrew Hoskin, informed the department that the collapsed area has been isolated. He mentioned that only one guest was injured during the incident and has since been released from medical care. Hoskin speculated that the collapse might have been triggered by substantial hail in the area around 18:30 on Monday, though this is subject to confirmation by the Engineering Report.
Hoskin also expressed gratitude to the emergency services, including the police, for their prompt response. The Department of Employment and Labour will make a decision on further actions once it receives the investigation and structural reports from Southern Sun. The primary objective of these investigations is to establish the cause of the collapse and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.