Macpherson: Charges must be pursued against those found guilty of playing role in George building collapse
Macpherson said he's received the report from the Council for the Built Environment, which commissioned a probe into the tragic incident in May 2024.
FILE: Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. Picture: facebook.com/DepartmentPublicWorksandinfrastructure
CAPE TOWN - Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson believes criminal charges must be pursued against those found guilty of playing a role in the George building collapse that resulted in the death of 34 people.
Macpherson said he's received the report from the Council for the Built Environment, which commissioned a probe into the tragic incident in May 2024.
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Macpherson said he will also meet with the families of the victims in two weeks to give them the latest information on the investigation.
He told a media briefing in Parliament on Wednesday that criminal charges are required if anyone is found in contravention of the law.
“From what I've seen, I think that criminal charges are obviously required and I think that criminality does exist.”
But Macpherson has warned against political involvement during the investigation, saying this has the potential to derail the investigation.
“I do, however, want to caution some political parties who are determined, in my view, to sink the investigation that will hold people responsible by demanding reports that the police have asked us to handle with care for fear of risking the investigation.”