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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Speaking at the public memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the Victoria Street building collapse, Dean Macpherson, National Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, said it is government's duty to support the families and victims, not just with words, but with meaningful intervention.
“Where this support has been lacking, we will correct it.”
Macpherson addressed about 600 dignitaries, survivors, bereaved family members, volunteers, Gift of the Givers, rescue workers, Rotary and Lions members, the victim support group, members of the public and media in the George Town Hall, located right next to the site where the 5-storey building collapsed at 14:09 on 6 May 2024.
Thirty-four construction workers died and 28 were injured when 6 000 tons of concrete crashed to the ground.
Macpherson said in many instances families have been left without a loved one, who was also their only means of support. He promised the families and survivors that their loss will not be ignored. "Your suffering will not be for nothing.
Macpherson said the Victoria Street building collapse - one of the South Africa's worst construction failures - was completely preventable. "Accountability cannot be optional when human tragedy takes place at the hands of human beings.”
He said the collapse was the result of "a litany of failures" and the guilty officials and professionals will be held accountable.
PHOTO GALLERY: Memorial service for first anniversary of the Victoria Street building collapse
Macpherson said the tragedy highlighted the lack of cooperation between the relevant government and municipal departments, the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa), the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and other role-players.
He said undocumented workers on construction sites are a reality across South Africa and they cannot be excluded from legislation.
“We must fix the system that failed the victims. We must fix what is broken and those responsible must be held accountable."
He said the families and survivors deserve face-to-face answers and a report by the Council for the Built Environment and Ecsa should be completed by the end of May. "I commit to return to George to explain the findings of the investigations in person.
“We will work harder to build a construction sector that is ethical, safe, and accountable.
“We will overhaul the frameworks that have failed you,” Macpherson said.
VIDEO - George building collapse - Human lives lost at human hands:
Georgians impress with love
Another speaker at the service, Imtiaz Sooliman of Gift of the Givers, praised the residents of George for their spirit of Ubuntu in the wake of the disaster.
“The proudest moment for me was the people of George. I have been involved in rescue operations all over the world, but I have never seen such an outpouring of love as I have seen in George. There was no issue of foreign nationals. Everybody came to help. The mercy of God came to life in the people of George.”
Imtiaz Sooliman of Gift of the Givers
Colin Deiner, the head of disaster management in the Western Cape, praised all the rescuers involved in the almost two-week long rescue operation, saying not only did the rescue teams bring their dogs, tools and their very best, they brought their humanity.
Waiting for Labour report
Before the official service began, Western Cape Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Detective Services, Major General Bongani Maqashalala, said the investigating team is waiting for the Department of Employment and Labour to hand them their report on the disaster.
He said the investigation is intricate as the investigating team has to integrate the information from all the different reports received from the various bodies and departments.
The investigation is headed up by Captain Johan de Lange.
The memorial service was organised by Muriel Hau-Yoon of the George-based Building Collapse Victims Support group.
Hundreds of people attended the memorial service.
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