It’s been a year since tragedy struck the town of George when a five-storey building collapsed, leaving 34 people dead and 28 others seriously injured.
Now, as the community continues to mourn and rebuild, the South African government has promised that the final report investigating the collapse will be ready by the end of May.
This announcement came during a moving commemoration ceremony held in George on Tuesday, where emotions ran high and calls for accountability echoed loudly.
Government Promises Accountability and Transparency
At the ceremony, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson addressed grieving families, survivors, and members of the community.
He assured everyone that the government remains committed to seeing justice served—stressing that anyone found responsible, whether from the public or private sector, will be held accountable.
“This can’t be brushed under the rug,” Macpherson said.
“We owe it to those who lost their lives and to the survivors who are still struggling today.”
What the Investigation Revealed So Far
An independent forensic investigation uncovered a series of deeply troubling failures that contributed to the building’s collapse.
According to initial findings, there were massive oversights and breaches of safety protocols throughout the project.
The building was originally approved as a single-storey structure—but it was illegally expanded to five storeys without the necessary reviews or permits.
Inspectors missed critical warning signs. Safety procedures were ignored.
Even the quality of the construction materials was substandard.
From the planning phase to the final stages of construction, corners were cut, and regulations were flouted.
The Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Minister Macpherson paid heartfelt tribute to the victims, their families, and the emergency teams who worked tirelessly for nearly two weeks to search through the rubble for survivors.
But even a year later, the scars—both emotional and physical—remain.
Some survivors are still dealing with long-term injuries and the inability to return to work.
Families who lost loved ones say the emotional trauma is made worse by financial instability and a lack of closure.
Many at the ceremony made it clear: they don’t just want answers—they want justice.
What Happens Next?
The final report, set to be completed by the end of May, is expected to outline concrete steps for legal action against those responsible for this disaster.
Authorities have stated that the families of victims and survivors will be given access to the report before it’s released to the public.
There’s hope that this report will finally provide the accountability people have been demanding—and help drive much-needed reform in South Africa’s construction industry.