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Engineering News reports that an independent forensic investigation into the building that collapsed in George last year has found that systematic failures across multiple levels of oversight, noncompliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and the project’s personnel were responsible for the tragedy.
Briefing the media on the findings of the investigation on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said these failures included irregular status upliftment, late enrolment, inspection lapses, material quality issues and safety violations. On 6 May 2024, the Neo Victoria project, a residential building that was still under construction, collapsed without warning, claiming the lives of 34 of the 62 construction workers on site. Many of the survivors were also critically injured. Multiple investigations were initiated to determine the cause of the collapse and to hold accountable those responsible. The NHBRC investigation focussed largely on the failures of inspectors and internal controls insofar as the council is concerned. The investigation revealed that the George municipality approved the building plans only after construction had already commenced, meaning the work on site began before approvals were finalised. The Department of Human Settlements, together with the NHBRC, has started drafting a new Bill to address the deficiencies identified in the report and the accompanying recommendations.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
- Read too, George building collapse: Negligence behind tragic loss of 34 lives, says Minister Simelane, at City Press (subscription or trial registration required)
- And also, Negligence, misconduct led to the collapse of George building, at TimesLIVE
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page