The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of hiding the true nature of the George building collapse.
Monday marked exactly a week since a five-story building collapsed on at least 81 construction workers, trapping them under the rubble.
The death toll in the tragedy, so far stands at 30, with fears that more bodies will be recovered as emergency workers work around the clock to find survivors.
Twenty-nine of the workers are recovering in hospital, while 22 others remain trapped in the debris.
Speaking to YNews, the PA’s Deputy President, Kenny Kunene, says this incident has exposed the failures of the DA-run municipality.
The families of the victims and the community also want answers about what truly transpired, while opposition parties are calling for the building contractors to be investigated.
Kunene suspects that those working on the site were not properly qualified.
His suspicions come amid speculations that the majority of the construction workers were undocumented migrants who were being exploited.
It is also alleged that the plans for the building were signed off by someone who is not a qualified engineer, while safety compliance was ignored on the building site.
PA leader, Gayton Mckenzie, has now made claims that there’s something amiss about George mayor, Leon van Wyk.
His assertions are due to the mayor allegedly having said he didn’t know the owners of the building that’s collapsed.
Mckenzie has also accused the mayor of wanting to call off the search.
The DA Mayor of George Municipality says they no longer wish to look for amakwerekwere🚮 buried underground because it’s unnecessary & too expensive. The DA never loved amakwerekwere🚮#GeorgeBuildingCollapse pic.twitter.com/TyLv3nUI6i
— Yaya Libram 🇿🇦 (@SelloLibram) May 13, 2024
The Neo Trend Group has been identified as the property owner of the collapsed building, while Liatel Construction is the principal contractor, along with six sub-contractors.
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, has told journalists that while Liatel was not registered with the Construction Industry Development Board – it’s not a major issue as it is not a requirement for private companies.
He called for a forensic investigation into the matter to ensure the owners of the building answer for this tragedy.
We want to ensure accountability from everyone responsible for the #GeorgeBuildingCollapse.
No one must be protected, and as the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure @DepartmentPWI, we will not hesitate to take decisive action.
May the 30 lives lost rest in peace,… pic.twitter.com/ZfmGXz3RsN
— Sihle Zikalala (@sziks) May 13, 2024
X users have also taken to social media, calling for justice while also expressing condolences to the bereaved families.
Apparently, most of the workers at the site were economic migrants whose legal status is not yet known.
When all is said and done…and no further miracles are recorded…
52 Human Beings would’ve tragically lost their lives in the #GeorgeBuildingCollapse
And I pray to God that those responsible will be held accountable! #George #WesternCape pic.twitter.com/9N7braAaT3— Cecil Haynie 𝕏 (@HaynieCecil) May 13, 2024
@Our_DA really angered our ancestors #GeorgeBuildingCollapse ..
How many foreigners were hired in that construction company.. why do I keep seeing foreigners being the one looking for their missing relatives 🤔🤔… pic.twitter.com/4HpYm44g2Z
— Tebza_FS🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@FsTebza) May 13, 2024
Do you organise in the Construction Sector? Casualization of labour is rife in the Construction sector. #GeorgeBuildingCollapse needs a Commission of Inquiry to get to the bottom of what exactly went wrong in the project. Is it Owner or Professionals or Contractor
— Sizwe Banzi is Dead (@sizwebanzi) May 13, 2024
Minister Zikalala says that government is gonna tighten regulations around compliance in the construction industry in the wake of #GeorgeBuildingCollapse. I’m just curious to know how the ministry came to the conclusion that the current regulations, namely NBR, are insufficient🤔
— Koketso 🕊🙏🏾 🏁🚀Ⓜ️🇿🇦 (@100_kMokone) May 13, 2024
All the information coming out of #GeorgeBuildingCollapse is heartbreaking and suggests ill treatment of employees, apart from flouting regulations and disregard of the law. It suggests that construction company owners should be arrested. These are human lives man!! https://t.co/FdHS6F4YXs
— Siphumelele Zondi (@SZondi) May 13, 2024
The 2024 gsport Hall of Fame luncheon saw the induction of the 19th legend into the organisation's list of prestigious female athletes. The annual event honours extraordinary women who have left an in-erasable mark in South African sport. This year’s luncheon carried special significance as it corresponded with the […]
