GEORGE NEWS - Survivors of the building collapse in May this year are still struggling to finalise things like claims for workmen's compensation and unemployment insurance. This is according to Ina Bezuidenhout, a lawyer specialising in occupational health and safety and environmental compliance who is volunteering her expertise to some of the survivors.

Bezuidenhout says apart from dealing with the trauma of the accident, families require ongoing assistance with such claims. 

"Under normal circumstances, employers play a key role in the submission and finalisation of such claims. Employers have to provide vital information regarding the claims and continuously follow up on completion and submission of the claims. 

"But in this tragedy, the victims are largely left to fend for themselves, often incurring expenses to visit the various officials, often over national borders, just to be informed that additional information is required, or that the wrong information was obtained."

She says apart from their first exposure to such major trauma, the individuals are not familiar with the processes, requirements or time frames associated with the compensation or unemployment fund claims.

"Also, these claims take time to be verified and paid out. In the meantime, families are struggling to survive and need funds for day-to-day expenses such as rental, food, school fees, taxi fares, airtime, toiletries, etc. Those who have lost breadwinners are experiencing significant hardship.

"One would have expected that the developer, the principal contractor and the various sub-contractors organise a communication platform to assist the victims in completing compensation claims and providing guidance to uninformed individuals. Although not a legal requirement, this would be a humane gesture," she says.

Physical and emotional trauma

The collapse of the newly built four-storey apartment block in Victoria Street buried 62 workers beneath tons of crumpled steel and concrete. 

Of the 62 victims pulled out of the wreckage, 34 lost their lives. The remaining 28 survivors were left severely traumatised, with many suffering acute physical injuries as well as the loss of limbs.

According to Garden Route Disaster Management, 19 of the victims are from Mozambique, 15 from South Africa, 13 from Malawi, nine from Zimbabwe, four from Lesotho and two remain 'unknown'.

Ivaldo Macamo, a survivor who lost a leg in the implosion, has received a prosthesis sponsored by Rotary until the workmen's compensation pays out.

Sibusiso Ngobese, one of the volunteers supporting the victims, says while the official investigations are underway to determine the actual cause of the event, the plight of the victims has largely been forgotten. "Despite the flurry of high-ranking politicians who visited the disaster site in the immediate aftermath, none has followed up on the welfare of the families."

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) responded as follows to Ngobese's statement: "The Western Cape DSD conducted assessments into the needs of the affected workers and their families, and several psychosocial support interventions have been undertaken. 

"The department has reached out to more than 60 families, based on the contact details provided at the time of the incident. Of these, some families had already left the province, and others indicated that they wished to do so. 

"A number of families accepted the offer of trauma and bereavement counselling. Furthermore, social workers linked some families with other departments such as Home Affairs and Labour. A comprehensive list of victims and their families' needs were handed over to the local municipality and organisations who are facilitating further support."

Municipality received donations

According to Chantèl Edwards, head of communications at George Municipality, the municipality received donations from approximately 148 individuals and organizations, amounting to R173,000. "A memorandum of agreement was signed by George Municipality with a non-profit organization (NPO) that is managing the funds under the municipality's guidance."

She said the municipality did receive the comprehensive list of victims' needs from the Department of Social Development and based on a predetermined criteria, the municipality together with the appointed NGO, evaluated which of these needs could be met with the funds available. 

"The primary focus was on improving mobility for specific individuals as identified by DSD. This would have included the provision of wheelchairs, the installation of ramps, and other necessary mobility aids, all within the limits of the available funds.

"However, on further investigation, these mobility needs were no longer required. What became apparent in the municipality’s investigations was that the victims and their families have fallen on hard times following the incident and one of the biggest needs is currently daily living items, such as food, electricity, cooking paraffin, etc.  

"The municipality is now in the final stage of considering distributing the donated funds equally between victims that are still in the country for such living expenses."

Contractor, developer not responding

No response was received to the newspaper's queries to Tiefenthaler Legal, attorneys for the developer Neotrend, or the building contractor, Liatel Developments.

The collapse of the four-storey apartment block in Victoria Street buried 62 workers beneath tons of crumpled steel and concrete. 

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