Independent probe into George building collapse will take at least a year

GEORGE - Independent structural engineers appointed by the Western Cape government say it will take at least a year to wrap up its probe into the fatal George building collapse.

The provincial administration assigned V3 Consulting Engineers on the case to determine what led to the 42-unit apartment block folding more than a week ago.

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The Department of Labour is leading an investigation, while the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) are also looking into it.

Eighty-one construction workers were on site when the building crashed last week Monday. At least 33 people have died and 19 remain unaccounted for.

“V3 Consulting Engineers did indicate that their preliminary timeline minimum will be 12 months, given that they must wait for above ground to conclude. Then there is still the Geotech phase of the investigation,” Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers said.

“Obviously, at every stage of the rescue mission so far, they have taken samples of what they could, and they get those results back, but that will all form part of the holistic report which will be served, like I said, in a minimum of 12 months when the report will be ready for us.”