George building collapse: still no justice

MEMORIAL

- NICOLA DANIELS.

SEVERAL parallel investigations and promises of accountability have resulted in no justice for the families of the victims of the George building collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 workers and left dozens injured.

‘Tragedy struck shortly after 2pm on May 6 last year when the multi-level structure being built on Victoria Street suddenly gave way in what emergency teams called a rare “pancake-style collapse’, where each floor crashed directly on to the one beneath it.

From May 6 - 17, rescue crews spent a gruelling 260 hours sifting through the debris, looking for any signs of life among the 62 confirmed casualties, the majority of whom were foreign nationals.

The people of George gathered yesterday gather to mark the one-year anniversary. However, overshadowing yesterday's commemoration was that investigations have been delayed, reports withheld, and to date, there have been no meaningful consequences for those responsible, said Good Party councillor in George Chantelle Kyd.

Speaking to The Mercury’s sister paper Cape Times last week, one of the survivors, Devlin Safers, an electrician, said he was working through the traumatic events of that day.