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| Politicians say an injunction to halt construction was obtained last month |
Rescue efforts in South Africa have been briefly suspended at the site a collapsed half-built mall, police say.
Police spokesperson Thulani Zwane told the BBC that the
search for survivors would resume after some of the concrete blocks has
been cleared.
One person has died and at least 40 others, mainly
construction workers, are feared trapped in the rubble at the site in
Tongaat, north of Durban.
About 30 people have been rescued, some with traumatic injuries, medics say.
Capt Zwane said 11 of those taken to hospitals in the area are critically injured.
The deputy mayor of the municipality told South African media
that authorities had obtained an injunction a month ago to halt
construction at the site in Tongaat, which is a small town about 40km
(25 miles) north of Durban.
"There are areas of the law that they [construction firms]
did not follow in terms of building," Nomvuzo Shabalala told broadcaster
ENCA.
"We were not aware that they were continuing building," she added.
Engineers are now using heavy machinery to remove concrete blocks.
Medics say the collapsed roof is about the size of a rugby field.
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