UPDATE: Emergency meeting called after illegal church collapse

UPDATE: 8 October 2014, 2pm – City officials have called an emergency meeting following the partial collapse of an allegedly illegal church on Johannesburg Road.

Ward 81 Councillor Margaret Radebe met with City of Joburg officials from emergency services, building control and development planning at the Alleluiah Ministry International church after one wall of the church, under heavy and apparently illegal construction, collapsed.

The site was heavily guarded on the morning of 8 October, and attempts were made to screen the collapsed building from public eyes with black plastic and plywood boards. Security ensured limited access, and church affiliates demonstrated some aggression towards a Tribune reporter arriving on the scene.

“As a councillor, I know about the matter and it’s been sent to the relevant departments,” commented Radebe, who was informed of the incident by a resident after it was reported on 702’s morning show.

According to Radebe, the church has been the subject of residents’ complaints for some time, due to the noise from both construction and worship. It appears the church, which has occupied the site for about 12 years, is operating illegally, as the land is not zoned for places of worship. In addition, reports claim that no planning permission has been granted for the extensive renovations and expansions currently underway.

Radebe is currently waiting for the results of an investigation into building materials and methods used onsite, and an urgent inter-departmental meeting to resolve the issue is planned for 10 October. She added, however, that church leaders had expressed regret at the incident.

In the wake of the recent collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria, this uncannily similar incident is making waves in Johannesburg’s news headlines. This second, local, incident is far less dramatic, with only one corner of the structure collapsing, and no casualties. It appears similar problems around urban management, building permissions and methods are at play.

UPDATE: 8 October 2014, 11am – The Alleluia Ministries International Church in Lyndhurst which partially collapsed yesterday is said to be an accident waiting to happen.

This according to an IOL article dated 30 September in which it is reported that the church ignored two separate court orders from the City of Joburg to stop building.

According to ward 81 councillor Margaret Radebe, the church is operating illegally, as – to the best of her knowledge – it is not zoned as a place of worship. She said problems with the church have been ongoing, and residents have complained about noise coming from the church.

The church is currently under construction, with a second storey being built above the current building. According to IOL, the land has been deemed unsafe to build on. IOL also reported that the access to the church is off Johannesburg Road, which is also not approved.

According to an anonymous phone call to the North Eastern Tribune, the builders were told to stop renovations, pending an assessment of the strength of the foundation. The caller reported that a wall, as well as a part of the floor, caved in and the ground below the building is water-logged.

Initial report: 8 October 2014, 10am – An extension to the Alleluiah Ministries church, which has been under construction for several months, collapsed yesterday afternoon. This was reported by a caller to 702’s John Robbie show this morning.

Affiliates of the church responded aggressively when a tribune reporter arrived to photograph the scene, refusing to comment on the collapse,and claiming that the extension had been taken down deliberately.

‘Must they wait until someone dies?’said a witness to the confrontation.

Ward 81 Councilor Margaret Radebe said she intends to visit the site later today to address the problem.

‘I know there are problems with the church. Residents have been complaining about the noise,’ she said.

Radebe said that the issue of the church’s permission to build has been raised previously,and she is currently waiting for the result of an oversight report on the site. She added that the area is not zoned for places of worship, to her knowledge.

A meeting has been scheduled later this month to address irregularities in the construction of the site.

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