By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African government says the collapse of a 5-storey building last year in the Western Cape province in which 34 persons were feared dead and dozens of others injured was “entirely preventable”.
A new report indicates that safety concerns had been raised before the partially built structure collapsed in the town of George in May 2024.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said the collapse was the result of multiple failures including the use of substandard materials, structural cracks, and visible gaps.
“There were a number of red flags that were continually raised about this project,” said a visibly angry Macpherson.
Some of the defects were detected a year before the collapse. According to the new report, a health and safety officer even resigned in protest but work continued at the project site. “The work should have stopped,” Macpherson said.
He added that these signs were a chance to turn back but instead, problems with the building were “covered up”.
Workers reported feeling vibrations in the structure, and being told to cover up holes with sand and substandard concrete, the report revealed.
Following what the minister described as an “emotional and painful” private meeting with survivors and families of victims, he called for criminal prosecution of those found to have been negligent.
A police investigation is ongoing but no arrests have been made. Many survivors are still hospitalised where they face trauma, medical bills and struggling to feed, Macpherson said.
According to a BBC report, an electrician, Delvin Safers was pinned under the tonnes of concrete and mangled metal for 28 hours. He sent voice notes to his family believing he might die.
A colleague of his was killed instantly as the concrete fell on top of them. After his rescue, Mr Safers told the BBC he had noticed no warning signs, but believed that if shortcuts were taken during construction, then those responsible “should be held accountable”.
He did not attend the minister’s briefing but his father, Deon, who did said he was impressed by the report.
“We want justice,” he said, adding that his son had received no compensation.
Macpherson pledged to introduce regulations to improve oversight in construction and reform outdated legislation.
