- The Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, welcomes the forensic report released by the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane.
- The Department of Public Works & Infrastructure will release another component of the broader investigation in May 2025.
- The findings of the May report will address potential professional and statutory breaches.
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, welcomes the forensic report released by the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, into the painful George building collapse that resulted in the tragic loss of 34 lives.
This disaster remains a scar on the psyche of the nation- one that will take time to heal. The report represents the first step towards ensuring accountability from all parties involved and will assist affected families in moving towards closure.
Following the George building collapse, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, as the custodian of the built environment sector, directed its entities to initiate investigations.
In May 2025, the Department will release another component of the broader investigation, focusing on acts of omission or commission by all built environment role-players in relation to the disaster. Questions were sent to municipalities, provincial departments, professional bodies, and entities to inform the process.
The findings to be released in May 2025 will address potential professional and statutory breaches, specifically focusing on actions taken by any Registered Person(s) identified during the investigation. This report will complement the one released by the Ministry of Human Settlements, which focused on building compliance matters.
These findings will contribute towards enhancing public safety at construction sites and will include recommendations and actions aimed at preventing similar incidents, with an emphasis on improved oversight and regulatory practices.
