New owner of George building collapse site won't be allowed to use previously approved plans - George Municipality

The George Municipality said that any new owner of the George building collapse site would not be allowed to use the previously approved plans.

The municipality was responding to news that the site at 75 Victoria Street is going on auction later in November.

Thirty-four construction workers were killed and 28 others seriously injured when a partially built five-storey apartment block caved in in May last year.

The flouting of building regulations and the incompetence of the engineer were some of the findings contained in the July report of the Council for the Built Environment, which investigated the conduct of engineers on site.

George Municipality spokesperson, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, said that since the company had been liquidated, it had withdrawn its initial claim for recovery costs.

"Any outstanding municipal claims do not automatically preclude the auction from proceeding. The George Municipal Building Control Division confirms that any new owner who acquires the property will not be permitted to proceed on the basis of the previously approved plans. These plans are no longer valid and cannot be implemented without resubmission and formal re-approval by the municipality."

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