Serious regulatory failures contributed to the collapse of a five-storey building at the River Ranch temple complex in Verulam, north of Durban, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has said.
Five people were killed and 11 others injured when the building collapsed in December while concrete was being poured on the upper levels in Redcliffe.
Macpherson released the findings of several investigations into fatal building collapses across the country on Thursday.
He said the investigation into the Verulam collapse found that the construction project did not have approved building plans or a construction work permit.
The Department of Employment and Labour had also not been notified that construction work had begun.
According to Macpherson, investigators were unable to establish one definitive technical cause for the collapse because key information was either unavailable or could not be obtained.
No complete structural drawings could be found, while investigators were also unable to identify the construction team responsible for the project or a built environment professional who had been responsible for the design and supervision of the five-storey structure.
However, the investigation identified several possible technical factors that may have contributed to the collapse, including concerns relating to the building's reinforcement, structural design, foundations, concrete and temporary supports.
Macpherson said the findings highlighted the need for greater compliance with construction regulations and stronger oversight to prevent similar tragedies.