Tongaat mall engineer to testify

The labour department said on Friday the commission set aside Monday and Tuesday for the testimony of Andre Ballack, an engineer with Axiom Consulting.

 

"Ballack's testimony before the commission is expected to be preceded on Monday by a presentation on the so-called 'finite model', which he claimed to have used to design the structure of the mall."

 

The finite model would uncover the information technology system that was used to design the structure of the columns, beams, and entire mall.

 

The presentation would take place at the engineering company's offices in Gateway, in Umhlanga. Ballack would conclude later in the day with a testimony before the commission.

 

The commission of inquiry was appointed following the structural collapse of the mall that claimed the lives of two people and injured 29 others.

 

On Tuesday, the commission would recall engineer Rob Young, who was hired to investigate the site of the mall.

 

Earlier this month, Piet Pretorius, an engineer tasked by Ballack to investigate the cause of the collapse, testified that the mall did not have an unusual structure.

 

Advocate Saleem Khan, the legal representative for Gralio Precast (Pty) Ltd, the contractor building the mall, accused Pretorius of evading questions to protect Ballack.

 

The commission is expected to have a last session before the end of October.