Police’s investigation into George building collapse 65% complete

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has called for the police investigation into the deadly George building collapse to be expedited following confirmation that 65% of the SAPS’s probe is complete.

George Herald reports that Winde met with Western Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, on Friday to receive a detailed update on the investigation. Captain Johan de Lange, who is leading the police probe, also attended the briefing.

While Winde welcomed the progress made, he stressed the importance of swiftly concluding the investigation without compromising the integrity of the case.

“This investigation must be thorough and watertight to ensure it holds up to prosecutorial scrutiny,” said Winde.

“But it is also essential that we bring clarity and closure to the survivors, their families and the relatives of those who lost their lives. They deserve justice delivered with care, compassion and professionalism.”

He urged Patekile to take all necessary steps to accelerate the process, emphasising the police’s primary responsibility in leading the criminal investigation into the collapse.

In January, Winde handed over the findings from an independent structural engineering investigation, commissioned by the Western Cape Government, to Patekile and the investigating team. Winde reiterated that the province launched its own inquiry due to the magnitude of the tragedy and its impact on the people of the Western Cape.

“The technical findings in our report are substantial and will support the SAPS in uncovering what led to this catastrophic incident,” Winde stated.

However, given the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, the findings of the provincial government’s report remain confidential. Making the contents public could jeopardise the criminal probe, Winde cautioned.

Winde also committed to writing to key stakeholders to request the acceleration of their respective investigations, reinforcing the call for co-ordinated and swift action across all spheres involved.

“This is not a matter for trial by media,” he said. “We owe it to those affected to ensure this case is resolved with integrity and urgency.”

DA pushes for answers on building collapse

The DA in the Western Cape is calling for urgent accountability following the deadly collapse in May 2024, which claimed 34 lives.

In a statement over the weekend, the party said it has requested that Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane, the NHBRC, George Municipality and other key stakeholders appear before the Western Cape Parliament’s Standing Committee on Infrastructure to explain the findings of the final NHBRC report, released last week.

The report flagged serious regulatory irregularities, and the minister confirmed it would be handed to law enforcement for possible prosecution.

“This was a failure of governance and oversight,” said DA infrastructure spokesperson Dirk Wessels. “Families deserve answers, and the public deserves transparency.”

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