A shopping centre has collapsed near the South African city of Durban killing at least one person and trapping as many as 50 others.

Emergency services say 26 people have been taken to hospital. The collapse happened at a construction site in the town of Tongaat.

Medical official Neil Powell said that there had been reports that the scaffolding holding up the construction had collapsed.

The incident reportedly happened late on Tuesday afternoon and several search and rescues teams were on the scene.

Television footage showed police and rescue workers walking over large piles of rubble and twisted metal lying next to a railway track.

Chris Botha, a spokesman for the Netcare 911 emergency service, said the second floor of the structure had given way.

"The scene is extremely horrific...concrete big blocks have fallen on to people" he told broadcaster eNCA from the scene.

"The guys are busy using hydraulic rescue equipment to break through the concrete and get to some of the patients" he added.