On 30 January 2025, Premier Alan Winde officially handed over the report containing the structural engineering findings from the independent investigation commissioned by the Western Cape Government, into the 6 May 2024 George building collapse to Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile and Captain Johan de Lange, the lead investigator on the matter from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The building, which was still under construction when it collapsed, resulted in the death of 34 people, and serious injury to many others.
Twenty-eight people were rescued alive in a multi-stakeholder disaster operation.
At the time the Western Cape Government understood that the event would have repercussions for human lives and livelihoods, and that an investigation into its cause would be essential. And so, at the same time that the multi-stakeholder operation was underway, the WCG secured the services of an independent structural engineering firm to conduct an investigation of the collapse site, simultaneous to the rescue operation.
It is the full, final report of this firm, which was peer-reviewed, to ensure its integrity, that has now been handed over to SAPS. This probe is one of several that were launched, with the SAPS being the lead body responsible for investigating an incident of this nature.
The report is now in the domain of the SAPS which must consider both the findings of this independent report and all other evidence in their possession as part of the overall criminal investigation to determine if charges are to be brought. The technical findings in the report are of such a nature that the Western Cape Government believes they will significantly assist the SAPS investigation.
Given the nature of the incident and the fact that 34 people tragically lost their lives, it is entirely possible that criminal proceedings may ensue. It is for this reason that the findings of the independent probe cannot be made public so that we do not in any way compromise the SAPS investigation and further possible proceedings.
The findings that stem from the various agencies’ investigations must be consolidated to ensure an overall understanding of what transpired and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“I want to acknowledge the forethought and hard work of the staff in our government who along with many other partners worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped on the site and thought about the importance of commissioning this report to understand the causes of this collapse. I also want to thank the independent team which came on board for concluding this investigation carefully, and as speedily as possible. I appreciate the commitment that all of you have shown to get this done right. There must be consequences for those responsible for this horrific tragedy. We have now handed over the report to the SAPS, who we have been assured are working tirelessly on this case, and we will continue to monitor this matter very closely,” emphasised Premier Winde.
“I will never forget being there when our teams recovered Gabriel Guambe alive from the site over 100 hours after its collapse. It is for him, for Delvin Safers, for their peers and friends who made it out alive and for those who succumbed, and the families of the victims, that justice must be delivered,” concluded Premier Winde.
Should court proceedings follow the investigative process, the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety Court Watching Brief Unit will closely monitor its progress.
Photos by Deidre Cloete
