Calls for justice as George building collapse remembered one year later

One year after the deadly George building collapse, families, survivors, and officials gathered to remember the victims and demand justice for one of South Africa’s worst tragedies.

Tuesday, 6 May 2025, marks one year since the collapse of a building on 75 Victoria Street in George, Western Cape, where 62 people were either trapped or lost their lives.

The five-storey apartment complex collapsed at 2.09pm while 62 construction workers were on site. 34 people tragically lost their lives, but 28 others were saved by rescuers over 11 days after the collapse.

One year after George building collapse

Dignitaries, victims, and family members gathered at the George Civic Centre on Tuesday afternoon to commemorate the tragedy.

The ceremonies began at 2pm, followed by a moment of silence at 2.09pm to mark the exact time when tons of concrete collapsed on that tragic day in 2024.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson attended the commemoration and described the incident as one of the worst and most preventable construction failures in South Africa’s recent history.

ALSO READ: More officials suspended over George building collapse

The minister promised to deliver justice and vowed to hold those responsible for the collapse accountable across various sectors.

“Buildings don’t collapse without reason, and they don’t collapse on their own. Accountability cannot be optional when human tragedy takes place,” Macpherson said.

An in-depth investigation has been commissioned to determine the causes of the collapse. The final report is expected by the end of May.

Final report expected end of May

The minister promised to return to George to explain the report to the grieving families and make sure they are not in the dark.

“You deserve the dignity of direct explanations and more of us to account to you,” he said.  

Macpherson acknowledged the lack of support for the families and committed to providing meaningful action and intervention for them, including financial assistance.

ALSO READ: George building collapse: Minister details investigation findings

“People didn’t just lose sons and daughters. They lost breadwinners, caregivers and parents. Our duty is to support them,” the minister said.

He also addressed the risks faced by foreign nationals working on construction sites and urged authorities to improve their protection and inclusion in safety and labour policies.

Macpherson told the families that their loss and suffering will not be forgotten.

Families’ loss will not be forgotten, says Minister Macpherson

“It will shape the real change that we want to see. We will work harder to build a construction industry that is ethical, safe and accountable,” he said.

“We will overhaul the frameworks that failed you on that day, and we will not rest until we are confident that no family member must ever again experience the heartbreak that you have had to endure.”

Before the event, the minister privately met with family members to brief them on the department’s progress in finalising its reports.

ALSO READ: 10 months later, where is the full George Building collapse report?

An independent forensic investigation into the building collapse last month found various levels of systemic failures.

The incident’s key causes, according to the report, were widespread non-compliance with regulatory standards and poor project management by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and project staff.

The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety (OHS) protocols.

Procedural and structural failures

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde stressed the need to hold those responsible for the deaths of 34 people accountable and urged investigators to complete their work swiftly.

“Today we remember those who’ve lost their lives, and we honour those who worked day and night to save the 28 people who would’ve lost their lives too had not managed to retrieve them with the speed that they had been retrieved,” Winde said in a video posted on social media.

“Our condolences again to those families, and we need justice as soon as possible.”

NOW READ: ‘Modern-day slavery’: Zikalala slams WC for lack of regulations, says George building collapse was avoidable