Ceiling collapse interrupts radio jock Jeremy Mansfield’s coffee meeting

16 March 2016 - 18:12 By TMG Digital

Radio personality Jeremy Mansfield was amongst the patrons injured when a ceiling collapsed during renovations to the News Café at Woodmead in Johannesburg on Wednesday. “Who knew business meetings could be so dangerous‚” he posted on social media. “The ceiling just collapsed at News Cafe Woodmead. Luckily only my foot was cut and my back is sore from diving to the floor‚ but the guy next to me seems injured quite badly.”(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));He followed this with a photo of the damage caused to the restaurant‚ commenting‚ “Not a good place to have a latte! Newscafe Woodmead. I was on the left where the ceiling (just) held up. Thank goodness. Best wishes to Tyrone who was under the main drop and is in hospital.”The company confirmed in a statement one person was injured when the ceiling collapsed at the restaurant.“Unfortunately‚ the construction designer was injured and has been taken to hospital for further assessment. We sympathise with him and wish him a speedy recovery‚” said Varina Singh‚ marketing manager for the brand.Singh said while there were 15 patrons seated inside the restaurant‚ none were “seriously hurt”. The company said the area of the store where the renovations were taken place had been cleared of all furniture and the store was not seating anyone in that specific area.News Café would be asking questions of the on-site construction company‚ Soda Creations‚ Singh said.“While we can confirm that a part of the ceiling collapsed at approximately 11am this morning‚ we are awaiting their full report to determine exactly what happened…“As safety is of paramount importance to News Café‚ the store has subsequently been closed to the public and our staff‚ while an independent engineering consultant will assess the entire restaurant and conduct a safety audit to ensure that everything is returned to safe‚ working order and safe for patronage.”In August last year‚ a ceiling collapsed during renovations at the East Rand Mall in Boksburg after a similar incident at Sandton City in June 2015...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.