Macpherson: Criminal charges needed for George building collapse
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says criminal charges should be instituted in connection with the George building collapse.
The building, which was still under construction when it collapsed in May last year, killed 34 people and left 28 others injured.
A forensic investigation revealed widespread negligence across the construction process, from planning and oversight to safety and regulatory compliance.
The minister briefed the media in Cape Town on Wednesday.
"I think that criminal charges are obviously required, and I think that criminality does exist, because 34 people don't just die in a building, and everyone walks away and continues with life as normal.
"That is why I'm so determined to protect the integrity of the investigation from political interference and pressure, because if we get it wrong, I'm going to be held accountable."
The National Home Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC) launched a full-scale investigation to determine what went wrong.
According to the report, the company bypassed critical checks in the NHBRC’s enrolment system, compromising the legitimacy of the project’s registration.
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