There were numerous issues with the building in the South African city of George that collapsed last year, according to Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson in response to a recently released investigation report. The minister stated that the deadly collapse was “completely unnecessary.”
Macpherson briefed family members of the 34 victims earlier on Saturday about the researchers’ findings. At a press conference afterward, the minister said that those involved had raised concerns multiple times about irregularities during construction.
Poor materials were allegedly used in the construction. Construction workers reportedly felt the structure vibrating during work, Macpherson said. Additionally, there were reports of cracks and fissures. According to the BBC, the researchers wrote that construction workers had to patch these up.
According to the minister, the work should have been stopped. Instead, the problems were “swept under the rug.” As a result, the conversations with the relatives were “emotional and painful,” Macpherson said.
In the disaster in May 2024, in addition to 34 deaths, there were also 28 injuries. One of the survivors was trapped under the rubble for five days. A police investigation into the collapse is still ongoing.