Minister receives report on George building collapse
He reiterated that accountability could not be optional when human lives were lost as a result of human error.
The minister on Monday confirmed he has received the final report from the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), via its body the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) on the tragedy.
On May 6, 2024, a five-storey building collapsed in George claiming the lives of 34 people and leaving 28 others injured.
Macpherson said the report marked a critical step in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's commitment to uncover the truth behind what he described as a preventable disaster and to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
'As the Department, we will now carefully study the report to develop a pathway forward to ensure that a tragedy such as the George building collapse never happens again. As I have previously committed, after studying the report, I will personally return to George to present the findings of this report to the families affected by this tragedy. They deserve to hear directly from us, not through the media, about what went wrong and how we intend to rectify it,' Macpherson said.
He emphasised that the collapse was the result of systemic failures across various regulatory bodies and a lack of cooperation among key stakeholders.
He added that the Department will continue to work with the police, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and other relevant regulatory bodies to ensure accountability.
'As I have said before, the collapse of the George building was entirely preventable, and we will therefore work towards accountability and address any errors that may have been identified. By working together, we are ensuring a safe and secure construction sector for all stakeholders,' Macpherson said.
Last week George councillor, Chantelle Kyd resigned from the Planning and Development Mayoral Committee over what she said was the DA-led municipality's lack of transparency over the confidential tabling of reports on the building collapse.
The GOOD councillor tendered her resignation, saying it was not an easy decision but that she could not stay in an executive role where 'truth is suppressed' and 'accountability is avoided'.
'It is unacceptable that the DA would choose to table critical reports behind closed doors, bar the media, and deny coalition partners the opportunity to address the public truthfully.'
DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said the position to table the item as confidential was a 'collective decision'.
'The position on the specific item in question was adopted by the Joint Coalition Caucus as all parties agreed to its recommendations. Furthermore, as GOOD communicated in recent weeks on the matter publicly, GOOD was informed that it could issue a party-political statement on the matter following the council meeting. So in no way were GOOD George sidelined, marginalised or censored while a member of the coalition government,' said Simmers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Steenhuisen calls national dialogue a ‘band-aid on the ANC's electoral wound'
DA leader John Steenhuisen has responded to former president Thabo Mbeki's open letter regarding the national dialogue. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has written off the upcoming national dialogue as an ANC campaign event. The Minister of Agriculture in the government of national unity (GNU) wrote an open letter to Thabo Mbeki in response to the former president's own letter released earlier this week. The DA withdrew from the national dialogue last weekend after President Cyril Ramaphosa ignored the party's ultimatum over the removal of Andrew Whitfield from his deputy minster role. National impasse Mbeki earlier this week called the refusal to participate in the national dialogue 'misplaced and very strange indeed', while daring the DA to leave the GNU. He also took aim at Helen Zille, claiming the DA's federal chair had an 'arrogant and contemptuous view' of those who did not support her party. Steenhuisen wrote an open reply to the former president on Friday wishing to explain why the DA has chosen to walk away from the national dialogue. He stated that Whitfield's actions — taking an international trip without permission — was 'far less egregious than the moral and ethical transgressions' of other ANC members of cabinet. 'This double standard has been in place since the formation of the GNU. The ANC has ignored every important clause of the jointly signed statement of intent,' wrote Steenhuisen Electioneering claim The DA leader praised Mbeki for his Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy from the early 2000s, noting that it was unpopular with ANC alliance partners at the time. 'You stood firm and exercised your mandate to the benefit of the country,' he wrote. However, Steenhuisen attacked the ANC's performance at the last year's national election, saying that Mbeki proposed the national dialogue as a way to improve the ANC's image with voters. Steenhuisen reiterated the DA's stance that the national dialogue was an ANC campaign tool needed to halt the party's electoral decline. 'We regard the proposed national dialogue, dominated as it is by foundations linked to the ANC, as a political manoeuvre aimed at placing a band-aid on the ANC's electoral wound,' he wrote. 'A talking nation is a thinking nation' A national dialogue planning workshop began this week in preparation for the main event scheduled for mid-August. 'A national dialogue is not just a talk shop. It's a platform where the people have a real voice. It's about listening to the lived experiences of citizens and acting on them,' stated the Thabo Mbeki Foundation on Saturday. 'This dialogue must go beyond speeches and meetings. A talking nation is a thinking nation. A talking nation is an empowered nation.' Mbeki confirmed in his letter to Steenhuisen that Treasury would pay for the national dialogue, with the bill reportedly around R700 million. 'We are determined to make sure that the ANC's abuse of public funds for its own purposes is not perpetuated in the run-up to the 2026 local government elections,' Steenhuisen concluded. NOW READ: National dialogue: Ramaphosa slams DA 'hypocrisy', says party will miss out on 'biggest show in SA'
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
DA leader John Steenhuisen hits back at Thabo Mbeki over national dialogue withdrawal criticism
DA leader John Steenhuisen has responded sharply to former President Thabo Mbeki's criticism for withdrawing from the National Dialogue. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers, IOL Graphics Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has hit back at former president Thabo Mbeki's criticism of the party's decision to withdraw from the upcoming National Dialogue. The DA announced last weekend that it would be withdrawing from the National Dialogue, just days after they threatened repercussions for the firing of former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa for travelling to the US without the president's permission. IOL reported this week that Mbeki, in a 10 page open letter, criticised the DA for its decision to withdraw from the upcoming National Dialogue, calling the move 'misplaced and very strange', accusing the DA of acting 'against its own very direct interests.' Good morning, South Africa. President Mbeki's open letter to me confirms that the National Dialogue is a creature of the ANC that has been sprung upon the public with the disingenuous claim that it is an 'inclusive' process. Read my full response below. — John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) July 5, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In a written response to Mbeki's open letter on Saturday, Steenhuisen said the DA would not participate in what he described as "another expensive talk shop" that would do nothing to improve people's lives. 'You sought my indulgence and now I must ask that you commit time for me to explain the DA's decision to stay away from yet another enormously expensive process that will predictably involve a lot of talking, but do nothing to advance open, transparent and corruption-free governance that South Africans so desperately desire,' Steenhuisen said. Steenhuisen also pointed out what he called a 'double standard' in how ANC ministers have been treated compared to the DA's deputy minister, Whitfield. He also criticised the dialogue's timing and origins, pointing out that Mbeki only called for it after the ANC's poor showing in recent elections. Suggesting it was a political move to regain lost support. "We also think the timing of this proposed dialogue is significant. We note that you did not call for a National Dialogue during the disastrous term of your successor, Jacob Zuma, even when the public outcry grew for his removal. "It was only last year, when it became clear that the ANC, for whom you campaigned in the 2024 election, was about to lose its majority, that you proposed this National Dialogue. It is clear to us that, as the ANC lost the confidence of the voters, ANC leaders (including yourself) began seeking ways of addressing this 'problem' as if it were a national crisis.' Steenhuisen said the dialogue was mainly planned between Mbeki and the ANC, without involving other political parties properly.
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
A ‘mockery' or ‘flimsy attack'? ANC and DA scrap over Tshwane city manager's appointment
The DA has hit back calling it a 'flimsy legal attack'. The appointment of Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler was conducted in a manner that creates a mockery of the prescripts governing the appointment of senior managers, claims the ANC. 'The ANC will request its councillors to ensure that the speaker is requested to convene a special council meeting as soon as possible, in order to allow the council to take a resolution on the validity of the appointment of the city manager,' the party said this week. The party has accused Mettler of lacking experience for the job. It said applicants were required to have 12 years of experience, of which at least five years must be at the senior management level, but Mettler only had 11 years of experience and should have been eliminated at the initial stage of shortlisting. 'His inclusion in the names of the shortlisted candidates is unlawful and irregular. Therefore, the appointment of Mettler as the City Manager is null and void and stands to be set aside in a competent court.' DA consulting lawyers DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink said he wrote to Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya to warn her against any move to have Mettler's appointment terminated or to use a baseless legal pretext to pressure him to resign. Brink said the DA, as a party represented in the council, were consulting lawyers in the matter 'Aside from the flimsy legal attack on Mettler's appointment mouthed by the ANC, it is clear that the ANC coalition in Tshwane wants to replace Mettler with one of their own deployed cadres. 'On a number of occasions, Mettler has been attacked by the EFF. Obakeng Ramabodu, the EFF Tshwane leader and the MMC has said in the Tshwane council that the party will get rid of Mettler. He has also accused him, without any evidence, of leaking confidential information,' he said. Brink said the most notable of these attacks happened when it became clear that the city would not drop the case against city officials implicated in an irregular contract award to a consortium led by ANC funder Edwin Sodi. 'Whatever legal pretext the ANC coalition devises, the point is that the party would prefer one of their own deployed cadres, not an independent professional, in the job of municipal manager.' ALSO READ: Tshwane speaker survives a motion of no confidence Mayor consulting with MEC ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said ActionSA would not allow instability in the city. 'While ActionSA acknowledges the ANC's right to express its opinion, we also affirm that coalitions must make space for differing perspectives, provided this does not undermine stability. 'The multi-party coalition in Tshwane has deliberated on this matter and noted concerns that the panel which interviewed Mettler included additional panellists beyond what is potentially permitted by the relevant regulations,' he said. Beaumont said this procedural irregularity occurred during the term of the DA-led mayoralty. 'We further note the concerns raised by the ANC regarding Mr Mettler's alleged lack of relevant experience and possible non-compliance with the requirements of the Municipal Finance Management Act. 'It is important to emphasise that these matters have not been raised by the MEC and have not yet been fully deliberated upon by the coalition. 'That said, the legal implications of asking the council to reverse an appointment at this stage remain uncertain and would require careful consideration,' he added. Beaumont said the coalition had mandated mayor Moya to engage with MEC Mamabolo on this matter, with the aim of clarifying the issues and identifying a resolution that upholds both the law and the stability of the city's administration. 'Her ongoing engagement with the MEC on senior appointments, as resolved by the political management committee, is both appropriate and constructive. 'We urge all coalition partners to be guided by this resolution and to refrain from unilateral actions that may jeopardise the hard-won progress of this coalition government,' he said. Beaumont said ActionSA's position is clear and consistent. 'We will not support the removal of any senior manager unless there is a clear, lawful and governance-based reason for doing so. 'This position reflects a core coalition principle that prioritises stability, continuity and performance in the city's senior administration.' NOW READ: Tshwane makes strides in corruption fight as city tackles R13bn irregular expenditure backlog
