The body of a construction worker who was killed when a trench collapsed at an Illiondale construction site was recovered on Sunday.
William Ntladi, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), said the body was recovered at 5.58pm.
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The trench collapsed on Friday, June 15, and the construction worker was declared dead on the scene. The body was recovered by DEMS members and stakeholders in the community with the use of heavy machinery.
Ntladi said the trench the worker was buried in was at least six metres deep.
He added that four-metre-high piles of sand and rock, next to the trench, fell into it and buried the worker.
“During the recovery operation stakeholders removed a massive rock off the body. Two excavators were required to move the rock,” said Ntladi.
“Because of the size of the rock, we believe the worker died instantly.
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“The cause of the trench to collapse is still undetermined,” said Ntladi.
An investigation by DEMS is underway.
“Chaplains from the CoE and the community provided counselling to the family when they arrived at the scene on June 17.”
Ntladi thanked everyone for their assistance.
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He said contractors, Edenvale SAPS, an SAPS K9 Unit, EMPD, Edenvale’s Community Police Forum and AfriForum assisted with recovery operations.
