Consulting engineer placed on precautionary suspension following building collapse

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa) has imposed a precautionary suspension on the consulting engineer linked to the collapse of the Neo Victoria apartment building on 6 May in which 33 people died.

The building was under construction and 62 people were on site when it suddenly imploded.

The consulting engineer on the project was Atholl Mitchell from Mitchell and Associates, a Cape-based company.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Tuesday 18 June, Ecsa says the decision was taken following the tabling of the report and recommendations on the building collapse and the role of the "Ecsa-registered person" at a council meeting held this month.

The decision, made under Section 14 of the Engineering Profession Act, is a preventive measure "to protect any potential and/or actual prejudice to public health and safety as a result of engineering-related undertakings".

"The suspension will be maintained until a decision is made regarding the potential charges against the Registered Person and/or the finalisation of any subsequent disciplinary action or appeal," says Ecsa.

Ecsa states, "In addition to the suspension, the Council in accordance with Section 14 of the Act, will request the Registered Person and/or other identified stakeholders to provide, within seven (7) calendar days from the date of the request, a comprehensive list of all engineering related undertakings, projects, and services rendered by the Registered Person in both personal and professional capacities, whether trading under the name and style of Mitchell and Associates or otherwise. At a minimum, the draft design and as-built drawings of the projects must be provided.

"Within three (3) weeks thereafter, the contractor or accountable party for the project is required to provide an independent engineer's report concerning the structural integrity of the structure. This report must be compiled by a Registered Person, specifically a structural engineer, with no less than ten (10) years of experience who has actively practised in the field of structural engineering and who is/was not involved as a project team member. The report should address the structural assessment and structural integrity of the engineering related undertakings.

"The scope of the request includes current and past projects dating back three (3) years from the date of this resolution."

Ecsa says subsequent to receiving these reports, a panel of Ecsa-appointed investigators will review the reports and prepare a report with findings, focusing on structural integrity, for presentation to the investigating committee.

"The investigating committee will then consider these findings and recommend any necessary steps to the council concerning the powers and/or duties of the council as outlined in the Act."

George Herald last week reported that the site had been handed back to the owner after the police and Department of Employment and Labour had completed their investigation of the site.

The owner told the newspaper via their attorney that they would communicate to the public in due time their intention regarding the future use of the property.

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