George tragedy survivors left out in cold

LIFE remains a daily struggle for Shadrack Mayine, who lost a leg and arm in the George building collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 of his colleagues and left dozens injured.

He was among the workers who were rescued when tragedy struck on May 6 last year- an incident no one has yet to be held accountable despite several parallel investigations and promises.  

At an emotional one-year commemoration on Tuesday, survivors and grieving families in attendance echoed the need for justice and support.

Mayine, now unemployed, uses a prosthetic limb.

“I feel better now. I can walk and move around, but my arm still gives me pain. I’m unemployed, and my family and volunteers help me.  Being on the site again was painful. It took me back to the day of the incident.”

Another survivor, Ivaldo Macamo, also described the economic hardship he now faces. 

“I can’t pay for my kid’s education because I am struggling, and no one is coming to my assistance,” he said.

Virgilio Sitoe, who is also unemployed, expressed frustration: “No one can help me with a job, not even the Labour Department.”

For some, the trauma of the collapse is compounded by personal loss. Lucas Mthethwa lost his nephew Mmeli, who had come to George from KwaZulu-Natal to find work.

“It is now difficult to accept his death. I brought him here to build a future,” he said.

Speaking at the George Town Hall, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson highlighted the need to support the victims with “meaningful intervention” in light of their inability to provide for their families since the accident.  

“People didn’t just lose sons and daughters, they lost breadwinners, caregivers, and parents. In too many cases, families have been left without sufficient assistance, without closure, and without the income their loved ones used to provide. Our duty is to support them, not just with words, but with meaningful intervention,” he said. 

Macpherson said a report by the Council for the Built Environment and its body, the Engineering Council of South Africa, had been commissioned to do another “in-depth investigation” into what went wrong. It will be completed by the end of May, and the minister promised to return to George to communicate its outcomes to the victims’ families.

“We are also actively engaging with the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, and regulatory bodies to ensure that if there is criminal liability, it is acted on swiftly. No one should be above the law, not an engineer, not a developer, not an official. Where this support has been lacking, we will correct it.

“This tragedy should never have happened and as a government, we must be honest about that. It was preventable. And because of that, it must never happen again. The lives lost on 6 May 2024 must not be in vain. To honour their memory, we are compelled to strengthen accountability, fix regulatory failures, and put public safety first. Across the various sectors of the public sector, there were lapses. And those must be acknowledged honestly. That is why I have insisted that those who fail in their duties, whether public servants or professionals, must face the consequences,” he said.  

Human Settlements Thembi Simelane said failure to recommit to the laws regulating the industry could lead to fatalities and severe consequences.

“Today we join families, friends and workers who helplessly witnessed the demise and injuries of their loved ones, a day that could have been avoided had those involved in the project adhered to the laws regulating the building industry,” Simelane said.

She said the National Home Builders Registration Council officials implicated by a report into the collapse will face several charges, including dereliction of duty, misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and misrepresentation in official inspection reports. They remain suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. 

“We will leave no stone unturned. I have directed the NHBRC board to ensure that all recommendations in this report are fully implemented. I expect them to give regular reports on the latter’s implementation,” said Minister Simelane.

GOOD George councillor and MMC for Planning and Development, Chantelle Kyd, said: “Two official investigations have already concluded - the Western Cape Government’s report in January 2025, and the NHBRC’s in February 2025 - yet their findings remain shrouded in silence, and accountability remains elusive. Now, a third report commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is set to be finalised in May. GOOD welcomes the Minister’s stated intention to return and personally brief families on the Council for the Built Environment’s findings. We will hold him to that promise. But GOOD is clear, families need more than condolences. They need consequences,” said Kyd. 

Cape Times