Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau has confirmed only two people have died after Wednesday’s bridge collapse across the M1 highway, near Sandton.

Earlier, Tau and Murray & Roberts officials said a third person had died, but his office since retracted this statement, according to a report by EWN.

Speaking at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he was visiting some of the people injured in the collapse, the mayor confirmed a third person did not die this morning.

Meanwhile President Jacob Zuma has extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives yesterday and directed the authorities to swiftly investigate the cause of the accident.

He has also urged construction companies to always take necessary precautions to protect workers and the public during the construction phases to avoid such tragic accidents.

 –EWN (Mia Lindeque & Aki Anastasiou)