The collapse claimed 34 lives and injured 28 others in May last year.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson confirmed over the weekend that an investigation had found clear structural issues at the heart of the collapse. He described the incident as “entirely preventable,” raising serious concerns about safety standards in the construction industry.

“The investigation has identified a number of factors, including poor quality of materials, inadequate safety oversight and a lack of accountability in the construction process,” Macpherson told journalists in George on Saturday.

In response to the findings, government has vowed to reform outdated laws and improve regulatory oversight in the construction sector. Macpherson said new regulations would soon be introduced to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in future.

“In terms of mandatory structural reporting and oversight, the Council for the Built Environment will establish a reporting protocol that mandates the registration of any structural system failure,” he said.

He announced the creation of a new hotline, which will allow workers, professionals and members of the public to anonymously raise safety concerns. These reports will trigger automatic inspections and, if needed, emergency shutdowns of construction sites.

The building collapse in George sent shockwaves through the country and renewed scrutiny over lax enforcement of construction regulations. The victims were mostly construction workers, and their deaths have reignited calls for better protection and rights for labourers in high-risk industries.

Macpherson stressed that accountability would be pursued and that any individuals or companies found to have acted negligently would face the full might of the law.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--