JOHANNESBURG - The company behind the George building collapse which claimed the lives of 35 people will face the law.
This comes as the investigations into the collapse have now been handed over to the South African Police Service.
This is according to Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.
"We have referred all the lapses in the system which need a criminal investigation as the course of alleged murder or culpable homicide to be determined by the justice system," said.
During the report's release, Simelane said this tarnished the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) reputation and led to the loss of life.
READ | George building collapse | Report finds company cut corners
She said that initially, the Department had, on a proactive basis, reviewed the applicable processes and regime that was under operation relative to the NHBRC and found the need to strengthen the regulatory environment.
"The Department together with entity commenced with the work of drafting a new Bill to address the deficiencies most of which mirror the findings contained in the report and the accompanying
recommendations."President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the Housing Consumer Protection Act into law and was published in the Government Gazette on 29 January 2025," she said.
Explaining the act, the minister said the law introduces significant changes to the legislative framework of South Africa's home building industry.
"It establishes enforcement tools and prescribes appropriate penalties or sanctions to deter non-compliance by homebuilders. This includes provisions addressing the personal liability of members and directors or trustees of a homebuilder," she said.
She said they are applying in terms of the processes of the new act to be able to check if the company is not doing any other work beyond the George building.
"We will be enlisting them in terms of ensuring that they are not allowed to continue violating the rules of construction and compliance," she said.