George building collapse two years on: survivors demand accountability as NPA delays prosecution

Survivors of the George building collapse two years ago have expressed their disappointment in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for failing to prosecute those persons responsible and in positions of authority over the construction site. On the 6th of May 2024, the five-storey building on Victoria Street in George collapsed, leaving 34 workers dead and 28 seriously injured.

A subsequent report by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) found that the developer, contractor and the engineer were responsible for the tragic loss of lives. Another report by the Department of Employment and Labour found that the employers were cutting corners by employing undocumented migrants who they paid below the minimum wage.

The second anniversary, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday, was postponed due to severe weather conditions currently affecting the Southern Cape region.

According to Sibusiso Ngobese from Ithembalethu Contractors Forum, families are still anxiously waiting to hear when the NPA will be launching the criminal case. “Most of the survivors and the families of the deceased are longing for closure as the wounds are still open. It has been two years now without any prosecution even though the investigations were done by the police,” he said.

Construction workers in George have established the Ithembalethu Contractors Forum (ICF) to ensure that employers formalise the employment of every worker so that they may claim compensation under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida), and can register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

“Most of the survivors are not working and they are sitting at home. You must remember that the majority of the workers at the construction site were foreign nationals. There is a guy who lost his arm and leg and now he is in a wheelchair and cannot work,” Ngobese said.

“There isn’t a day when I do not think about what happened that day. The trauma of what happened is still there. I think about how I was supposed to die there that day.” Video produced by Mzi Velapi and Edited by Sindile Gulwa.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson has urged the NPA to take the necessary prosecutorial decisions following the completion of the police investigation into the George building collapse.

“With SAPS having completed its investigation, the ball is now in the court of the National Prosecuting Authority to take the necessary prosecutorial decisions and, where warranted, bring those responsible to court for this avoidable tragedy. No one should be above the law. Not an engineer, not a developer, not an official, and not any person whose actions or failures may have contributed to this disaster. Justice delayed only deepens the pain of families who have already waited too long for answers,” said Macpherson.

During the press conference in George last year, one of the survivors, Elelwani Mawela told reporters that she is struggling with medical bills as she cannot afford to fix her teeth. She is bullied in her community because she does not have teeth. Mawela said that she sometimes considers committing suicide because of it. Video produced by Mzi Velapi and edited by Sindile Gulwa

The NPA spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila said that they are busy considering the evidence. “We are being thorough due to the nature of the evidence we are dealing with,” Ntabazalila said.

The Ithembalethu Contractors Forum said it ultimately wants the families of the deceased and the survivors to be compensated. “The people who died were breadwinners for their families, so compensation must take place. In the end, those who were in charge have to be prosecuted, and if found guilty to get heavy sentence,” said Ngobese.