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Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson [R]
Serious safety concerns, poor quality of materials, and a lack of oversight are some of the reasons for the George building collapse on the 6th of May last year. These are part of the outcomes of an investigation by the Council for the Built Environment, which was released by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, during a media briefing in the Western Cape.
34 construction workers died and 28 others were injured when a multi-storey building on Victoria Street collapsed while under construction.
Macpherson released the outcomes of investigations into the George building collapse. This follows a closed meeting with the victims and their families.
The minister said the collapse of the building was entirely preventable and pointed out several lapses that occurred. These included the fact that structural issues identified in 2023 had already been covered up.
One of the survivors, Elelwani Mawela, a safety officer from Limpopo, was trapped under the rubble for three days before being rescued. She sustained severe facial injuries, including a fractured jaw. She has already undergone three major operations, but more is needed.
Macpherson said justice is yet to be served to those responsible. He implored the Department of Employment and Labour to finalise their outstanding report and expedite compensation to the survivors and families of the deceased.
CEO of the Council for the Built Environment, Dr Msizi Myeza, says that in 2023, the subcontractor already warned of structural concerns.
The concrete used did not comply with requirements, and workers were told to patch holes with sand and water. The Health and Safety officer resigned halfway through the project, due to the safety violations, which were not acted upon.
Minister Macpherson said it’s a lethal convergence of failures with planning, oversight, and enforcement.
“In terms of mandatory structural reporting and oversight, the CBE will establish a reporting protocol that mandates the registration of any structural system failure. A hotline will be launched to allow workers in the built environment, as well as practitioners and professionals, and members of the public, to anonymously raise safety concerns with them. These reports will trigger automatic inspections and, where necessary, emergency site shutdowns.”
