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6 February 2026
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Doornfontein building partially collapses after transformer explodes, injuring four, Johannesburg
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A wall collapsed on Monday, 2 February 2026, after a minor explosion struck a section of student accommodation. The blast appears to have been localised, affecting only the front portion of the building in Doornfontein, near the Johannesburg CBD. Emergency teams were combing through the site of the wall collapse in Doornfontein to determine if anyone remains trapped under the rubble.
Four people sustained injuries in the blast, including one student and three security guards. While authorities believe all residents of the building were accounted for, Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi stated that protocol dictates a full clearance of the site before the scene can be declared safe.
"Because we are not sure whether there are any other people who might be trapped... our knowledge tells us that we cannot just leave the place with rubble like that," Mulaudzi said. "We need to make sure that we move that rubble so that we can be definitely sure that there are no people trapped. That is where we are now."
Mulaudzi said they received a call saying a transformer was on fire. On arrival, emergency personnel discovered that a substation had exploded. “... in that process the wall collapsed and around the vicinity there were about four people who were in the area who got injured,” he said.
The transformer was housed in a small utility storage room and the explosion resulted in the collapse of a room and adjoining boundary wall.
Specialised teams remained on-site to conduct safety checks and prevent further structural damage to the residence.
"The extent of damage at the moment—we are told it's a wall—we are not sure whether they had a gas installation in the building," Mulaudzi added. "Our fire safety investigators will conduct that investigation; we'll be able to know whether there is a gas supply in the building."
Sources: EWN, The Sowetan
Four people sustained injuries in the blast, including one student and three security guards. While authorities believe all residents of the building were accounted for, Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi stated that protocol dictates a full clearance of the site before the scene can be declared safe.
"Because we are not sure whether there are any other people who might be trapped... our knowledge tells us that we cannot just leave the place with rubble like that," Mulaudzi said. "We need to make sure that we move that rubble so that we can be definitely sure that there are no people trapped. That is where we are now."
Mulaudzi said they received a call saying a transformer was on fire. On arrival, emergency personnel discovered that a substation had exploded. “... in that process the wall collapsed and around the vicinity there were about four people who were in the area who got injured,” he said.
The transformer was housed in a small utility storage room and the explosion resulted in the collapse of a room and adjoining boundary wall.
Specialised teams remained on-site to conduct safety checks and prevent further structural damage to the residence.
"The extent of damage at the moment—we are told it's a wall—we are not sure whether they had a gas installation in the building," Mulaudzi added. "Our fire safety investigators will conduct that investigation; we'll be able to know whether there is a gas supply in the building."
Sources: EWN, The Sowetan
