GEORGE COLLAPSE: STILL NO JUSTICE

On the anniversary of the George building collapse, families and survivors gather to commemorate the tragedy

- 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, 2024, 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 onto the one beneath it.

From May 6 to May 17, rescue crews spent a grueling 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 will today gather to mark the one year anniversary. However, overshadowing today’s commemoration is 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 Cape Times yesterday, one of the survivors, Devlin Safers, an electrician, said he was trying to think back to the traumatic events of that day.