GEORGE NEWS - Due to forecasts of extreme weather conditions, Wednesday's memorial for the building collapse victims has been postponed indefinitely.

It would have been the second memorial after the tragic collapse happened on 6 May 2024. 

Plans for tomorrow were for the families and survivors to gather at 75 Victoria Street, the site of the disaster, where Rev Pete Veysie of the George Methodist Church was to facilitate a prayer session.

According to a statement issued late this morning by the survivors and families, they are anxiously waiting to hear when the National Prosecuting Authority will be launching the criminal case.

"In the meanwhile, construction workers in George have established the Ithembalethu Contractors Forum (ICF) to ensure that employers register every worker for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). These are some of the reasons why the 28 survivors and the families of the 34 deceased of the disaster have been struggling to claim unemployment benefits and workplace injury compensation," reads the statement.

The chairperson of the ICF, Siyabulela Makahwa, may be contacted on 071 727 0930 and the spokesperson, Sibusiso Ngobese, on 078 797 9713.

George Herald on 17 April enquired via email of the NPA regarding progress being made with its investigation. No response has been received. 

Previous article:

Second anniversary of SA’s deadliest construction disaster

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’