SOUTH AFRICA WORKS MINISTER VISIT GEORGE BUILDING DISASTER SITE

Minister Sihle Zikalala of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is leading a delegation of built environment professionals and experts to the site of the George building disaster, which occurred last Monday with 24 confirmed fatalities. The visit aims to investigate the role of professionals involved in the project and assess compliance with built environment regulations.

The delegation includes senior executives from DPWI, the Construction Industry and Development Board (CIDB), and the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), along with regulatory professional councils such as Quantity Surveyors, Town Planners, Engineers, Environmental Practitioners, Land Surveyors, Project and Construction Managers, Property Valuers, Architects, and Landscape Architects.

DPWI, through its two entities, is responsible for regulating the built environment and construction sector in South Africa. The purpose of the visit is to determine whether there was compliance with built environment regulations and to investigate any possible misconduct by the professionals involved in the project.

Minister Zikalala will start by visiting the Joint Operations Center for a briefing on the situation before proceeding to the disaster site. He will then address the media alongside the delegation of professionals.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy. Additionally, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi visited the collapsed building site on Thursday.

SOURCE: SAnews