Deadly George building collapse was 'entirely preventable': Macpherson
This report must form part the police investigation to establish criminal negligence for what happened, he said.
"If criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible must be prosecuted without delay. We must ensure that people are held accountable for 34 souls losing their life."
The reforms will be carried out in three phases as follows: Phase 1 from 2025 to 2026: Immediate interventions, including new regulations, mandatory standards and emergency protocols;
Phase 2 from 2026 to 2028: Implementation of long-term reform, including legislative amendments and competency-based registration systems; and
Phase 3 from 2028 onwards: Institutional consolidation and relocation of custodianship of building regulations functions and standards to the department of public works & infrastructure.
A total of 34 people died and 28 were injured. Among those on the site were South Africans, Mozambicans, Malawians and Zimbabweans.
Macpherson said he had noted how the tragedy had taken a toll on the families of the dead and injured workers. "There is great suffered in the families. They struggle to put food on the table, pay medical costs and have psychological challenges," he said.
"We are exploring options with the department of social development and NGOs to provide relief or support to the families most affected, including those who have lost primary breadwinners. We also take seriously the vulnerabilities faced by foreign nationals on construction sites, many of whom work under exploitative or undocumented conditions."
As political parties, it didn't help to abuse the situation for political gain, he added.
George building collapse survivor Elelwani Mawela of Limpopo spoke about the sadness she experienced after the tragedy. She said while she survived it was difficult to talk about as she burst into tears and was comforted by Macpherson.
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