PRETORIA - The investigation into the George building collapse has found the company behind the Neo Victoria project cut corners.
Delivering the report on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said the company bypassed rigorous processes.
Systemic failures were found across multiple levels of oversight, non-compliance with regulatory standards, and mismanagement by the National Home Builders Registration Council’s (NHBRC) and the project’s personnel.
Late enrolment, inspection lapses, material quality issues and safety violations were also identified.
By failing to declare its intention to construct a multi-story building,
Simelane says the company breached NHBRC’s policies, which require transparency regarding a home builder's intended project scope and technical capacity.
"By bypassing this rigorous process, the company in question compromised its registration and certification of the project".
According to Simelane some survivors are still recovering from the devastating day that changed their lives.
The 2024 George building collapse claimed the lives of 34 people and left scores injured.
What happens now
Recommendations arising from these investigations include holding implicated officials accountable for their actions.
The minister says the charges that will be leveled against these officials include dereliction of duty, misconduct, negligence, dishonesty, and misrepresentation in official inspection reports.
The NHBRC has since suspended the officials implicated in the investigation.