A devastating building collapse in the South African town of George that claimed the lives of 34 construction workers and injured dozens more was “entirely preventable”, according to a scathing government report released this week.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson, speaking at an emotional briefing following the findings of a months-long investigation, said the tragedy was the result of a chain of avoidable failures, including the use of poor-quality materials and ignored structural warnings.
“There were a number of red flags that were continually raised about this project,” a visibly angry Macpherson said. “The work should have stopped.”
The five-storey apartment block, still under construction, crumbled in May 2024, trapping scores of workers beneath tonnes of debris. The report has revealed that construction had continued despite glaring signs of danger cracks in the structure, visible gaps, and safety officers raising repeated alarms.
In a shocking revelation, the site’s health and safety officer had even resigned in protest months before the collapse. Yet, construction persisted.
“The problems were not only ignored, they were covered up,” Macpherson stated, describing the events leading up to the collapse as a “shameful breach of responsibility.”
The report includes accounts of workers being instructed to cover structural holes with sand and mix concrete using substandard materials. Some workers had reportedly felt vibrations in the structure in the days leading up to the collapse.
Among the survivors is Delvin Safers, an electrician who was trapped under the rubble for 28 hours. During his ordeal, he sent voice notes to his family, believing he might not survive. His colleague beside him was crushed to death. Though Delvin made it out alive, his recovery like many others has been slow and painful.
