34 Deaths Blamed on Negligence, Substandard Materials
A May 2024 building collapse in George, Western Cape, killing 34 workers and injuring dozens, was “entirely preventable,” per a South African government report released July 21, 2025. Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson cited substandard materials, structural cracks, and ignored safety concerns, including a health and safety officer’s resignation, as key failures, per BBC.
The report, by the Council for the Built Environment, revealed defects noted a year prior, with workers reporting vibrations and being told to cover holes with sand and substandard concrete. Macpherson called for criminal accountability, with a police investigation ongoing but no arrests made. Survivors like electrician Delvin Safers, trapped for 28 hours, face trauma and financial hardship.
Safers’ father, Deon, demanded justice, noting his son received no compensation. Survivor Elelwani reported physical and emotional struggles, including bullying. The collapse, one of South Africa’s deadliest construction disasters, exposed systemic oversight failures. Macpherson pledged regulatory reforms to enhance construction safety, aligning with a parallel Engineering Council probe.
The incident follows a pattern, with a 2019 Stellenbosch collapse killing four. The report criticized the developer, suspected of links to prior failures, and highlighted inadequate inspections. Families and unions, including NUM, demand compensation and stricter enforcement, as George’s construction sector faces scrutiny for prioritizing profit over safety.