A construction designer was injured when the ceiling collapsed at a News Café restaurant in the Woodmead Retail Park‚ on Wednesday — while patrons were in the Johannesburg store.

Varina Singh‚ marketing manager for the brand‚ said renovations were happening inside the store and they would be asking questions of the onsite construction company‚ Soda Creations.

“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.”

She said while there were 15 patrons seated inside the restaurant‚ none were “seriously hurt“.

“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.”

Singh 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.

“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‚” she said.

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.

Radio and television personality Jeremy Mansfield was one of the patrons at the store when the incident happened and posted this on Facebook about the experience:

'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.

Who knew business meetings could be so dangerous. 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.'