The tragic collapse of a five-storey apartment block that claimed 34 lives and injured dozens in George in May 2024 was “entirely preventable,” South Africa’s government has concluded, following the release of a damning investigative report.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson revealed the findings at a press briefing on Saturday, expressing anger over widespread negligence, ignored warnings, and regulatory failures.
“There were a number of red flags that were continually raised about this project,” Macpherson said.
“The work should have stopped.”
According to the report, commissioned by the Council for the Built Environment and supported by a parallel inquiry from the Engineering Council of South Africa, the project suffered from:
- The use of substandard materials
- Visible structural cracks and gaps
- Ignored safety warnings from inspectors and workers
- Deliberate efforts to cover up defects rather than address them
Some issues were flagged as early as a year before the collapse. The designated health and safety officer even resigned in protest, but construction continued regardless.
Workers reported feeling vibrations and were allegedly instructed to conceal holes with sand and low-grade concrete.
These shortcuts, the report suggests, significantly compromised the building’s integrity.
‘Emotional and painful’ meeting With survivors
Minister Macpherson held a private meeting with survivors and bereaved families before the briefing, calling the session “emotional and painful.”
He emphasised the need for criminal accountability for those who may have contributed to the disaster through negligence or fraud.
A police investigation remains ongoing, but no arrests have been made to date.
Survivors still struggling
Survivors continue to face deep emotional and financial challenges.
Electrician Delvin Safers, who was trapped under rubble for 28 hours, said that he feared he would die and sent goodbye messages to his family.
Although he survived, a colleague beside him was killed instantly.
His father, Deon Safers, attended the minister’s briefing and welcomed the report’s transparency, saying: “We want justice.”
Another survivor, Elelwani, shared her painful recovery publicly, revealing she lost teeth in the collapse, now struggles to eat, and has faced bullying due to her injuries.
She has appealed for public financial support, having received no compensation.
Call for reform
Minister Macpherson pledged sweeping regulatory reforms to strengthen oversight in the construction industry and update South Africa’s outdated building legislation.
He said his department would not allow such failures to happen again.
“Our leaders, developers, and contractors must be held to the highest standards. The days of looking the other way are over,” he said.
The George building collapse on 6 May 2024 was one of the deadliest construction disasters in South Africa’s recent history.
The unfinished residential complex caved in during a regular workday, trapping dozens of workers under debris.
Are you confident the George building collapse will be the last such tragedy?
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