The South African Police Service (SAPS) team investigating the fatal George building collapse last year is expected to complete its probe by the end of November, but only if outstanding reports are received from the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL).
This was confirmed by Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major-General Bongani Maqashalala, who told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure that findings should be ready by 17 December.
During a tense joint sitting of the Portfolio Committees on Human Settlements and Public Works, and Infrastructure this week, MPs voiced frustration at the slow pace of justice more than a year after the tragedy that claimed multiple lives. Parliament said it was “dissatisfied that not a single person has been held accountable”.
In a statement, the committees noted that “justice delayed is justice denied”, calling on the DEL to expedite its report to allow SAPS to finalise its investigation.
Members also expressed alarm over what they described as “evasive and obstructive behaviour” by the George Municipality, which attended the meeting “accompanied by legal representatives and refused to share a report with Parliament”.
Committee chairperson Ms Carol Phiri said such conduct was “tantamount to obstructing accountability”, reminding the municipality that Parliament’s constitutional oversight role “will not be undermined.”
The committees further highlighted systemic failures in the construction industry, citing the collapse as “an anatomy of a failed system”. Concerns were also raised about the shortage of inspectors within the DEL and the high number of undocumented foreign nationals in construction.
Parliament has vowed to reconvene early next year to assess progress.
“The committees also resolved that the George Municipality must provide additional information, and failure to comply will result in the committees instituting a process to subpoena the municipality,” said Phiri in a statement.
