The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has expressed its deepest concern regarding the George building collapse, the tragic collapse of a five-storey building under construction in Victoria Street, George, Western Cape. ECSA said its thoughts are with all those affected by the distressing event and confirmed it is actively investigating the matter.
ECSA’s Regulatory Role
As the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the engineering standards of registered persons, ECSA said it is steadfast in its commitment to comprehensively assess all pertinent factors surrounding the incident, in line with the powers conferred on the Council by the Engineering Profession Act, 46 of 2000. The Council noted the paramount importance of the matter to public health and safety.
What Happened in George
As reported by News24, TimesLIVE and other news sources, the building under construction collapsed on Monday, 06 May 2024. CCTV footage captured the moment of the collapse at approximately 14:09, with around 75 construction workers present. A significant rescue operation followed, with over 80 rescue personnel deployed, including 53 emergency responders from the City of Cape Town and Worcester Disaster Services, supported by heavy crane trucks, lifting equipment and structural collapse vehicles.
Providing an update late in the afternoon, Mr Gerhard Otto, Head of Disaster Management for the Garden Route District Municipality, said:
So far, 25 people have been removed from the rubble, but 49 others are still unaccounted for. At least six people have lost their lives following the collapse of the apartment building.
Coordinated Rescue and Support
Local Government MEC Mr Anton Bredell’s spokesperson, Mr Wouter Kriel, detailed the support dispatched to the site, including essential equipment and vehicles, and assured that rescue efforts would be ongoing. Municipality representatives arranged public support donations, urging contributions of drinking water and food for officials on site, and provided a space at the main municipal building for the families and friends of affected workers.
Mr Mario Ferreira of Gift of the Givers reported that their team arrived two hours after the collapse, with rescue efforts underway. The Western Cape government, led by Premier Mr Alan Winde, monitored the situation closely and emphasised the priority of saving lives. Premier Winde urged the public to refrain from visiting the site so that emergency services could work safely and efficiently.
Investigation into Root Causes
Aligned with its third-party responsibilities enshrined in the Engineering Profession Act, ECSA said it will investigate the root cause or causes of the fatal incident to establish the extent of involvement of registered persons.
Original Press Release
About ECSA
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is the statutory body established under the Engineering Profession Act, 46 of 2000, mandated to regulate the engineering profession in South Africa. ECSA is responsible for the accreditation of engineering programmes, the registration of engineering practitioners, and upholding professional and ethical standards across the profession.
Issued by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
ECSA Media Contact
Sybil Dlamini, Manager: Marketing and Communication
Email: sybil@ecsa.co.za | Tel: 073 623 8275
Website: www.ecsa.co.za
This article is based on an official ECSA press release. Read the original statement.
