Parliamentary committee wants forensic report on building collapse

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The national parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure has expressed its disappointment at not having received the forensic report from the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) regarding the 75 Victoria Street building collapse of 2024.

The committee met yesterday, 17 September, with the CBE, CIDB and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for a briefing on the outcomes of the investigation into the collapse on 6 May last year, in which 34 people died. The building was still under construction at the time.

In a statement issued this morning, 18 September, the committee quotes the chairperson, Carol Phiri, as saying: “It is unfortunate that the forensic report is not with us as the Department of Public Works feels that it contains sensitive information and the committee will have to view the report in camera first.

“There is nothing to tell the people of South Africa, but what we are getting is that they are afraid to go after the contractor based on legalities,” said Phiri.

“It is a shame that, as the committee, we are unable to get the answers we need to properly understand who was negligent in the collapse of the building that resulted in deaths and injuries to workers.”

George Herald reported on the CBE’s media briefing in George earlier this year when the council’s CEO, Dr Msizi Myeza, shared some of the findings in its report.

At the same briefing, the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa) announced its findings and rulings flowing from a disciplinary hearing of the structural engineer. Ecsa is now facing a defamation suit by that engineer.

According to the portfolio committee’s statement, the CBE informed the committee that the current regulations in the built environment are “fragmented, and entities often work in silos, making information sharing and co-operation between different bodies in the built environment challenging.”

“The committee commends the CBE for being honest about its shortcomings in providing professional guidance on the built environment on construction sites,” said Phiri. She also critisised the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean MacPherson, for not attending the committee meeting.

The committee recommended that a multi-stakeholder meeting be held with the relevant departments, including Human Settlements, Home Affairs, Employment and Labour, the SAPS and other relevant parties to determine the root cause of the building’s collapse.

Chantelle Kyd, Good councillor on the George Municipal Council, said the party shares the frustration expressed by the committee, but their proposed solution to hold a closed-door in camera meeting is not warranted. "Accountability cannot take place behind closed doors. The public has a right to know who was responsible, what went wrong, and how those in power intend to prevent it from ever happening again.”

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