A joint meeting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Human Settlements and Public Works and Infrastructure has voiced significant dissatisfaction over prolonged delays in the investigation into the George building collapse, which claimed 34 lives in May of last year.
The committees have insisted that the matter be finalized urgently to ensure those responsible are held accountable for the tragedy.
“We want to bring closure to this issue because every day we’re getting inquiries about when is this thing going to be finalized,” a committee member stated, echoing the sentiment of their colleagues.
The final comprehensive report is contingent on submissions from various departments and role players, including the Department of Employment and Labour. These outstanding reports are expected to be submitted to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), which is leading the final investigation, before a conclusive report can be compiled by the end of the year.
Committee members emphasized the critical importance of this final report, noting it will address complex issues they are not equipped to analyze alone. These issues include the employment status and necessary skills of workers, specifically highlighting concerns about individuals who were not in the country legally and whether they were employed on the site.
Further frustration was directed at the officials leading the investigations. The committees questioned the clarity of the leadership structure, with one member noting, “All the departments involved… have said it seems like there was no good communication amongst themselves.”
Despite the delays, the SABS has reportedly committed to finalizing its investigation by the end of this month, provided all outstanding reports from other departments, including the Department of Employment and Labour, are submitted on time.