Sniffer dogs were brought in to search for any victims trapped under a pile of twisted metal and masonry, though it was not confirmed that anyone was buried under the debris.
Gauteng provincial health minister Gwen Ramokgopa said workers were on the roof when it collapsed into a public area of the Charlotte Maxeke hospital in central Johannesburg.
"So far we have five injuries, two of them were the contractors themselves, two were our patients, and one is our employee," Ramokgopa told reporters at the scene.
"We are still digging at the moment, but nothing has been found yet," spokesman Russel Meiring told AFP.
"We have the canine search and rescue team there, we are not sure if there are any people trapped."
The main opposition Democratic Alliance party claimed that stones had been shifted onto the roof that caved in near the maternity department of the hospital.
The Charlotte Maxeke is a large public general hospital in central Johannesburg, named after a social worker and activist who died in 1939.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
