Original Tongaat Mall designs were not followed – witness

Engineering expert Rob Young was put under cross examination when the Tongaat Mall Commission resumed this morning.

Young is the engineer hired by contractors Gralio Precast to investigate the Mall’s collapse.

His cross-examination follows the completion of that of Dr Piet Pretorious, who was hired by mall design engineer Andre Ballack’s legal team to investigate the collapse.

In his evidence, Young disputed much of what Pretorious had previously testified, mainly arguing against Pretorious’ theory that debonding of columns 319 and 243 played a role in the deadly collapse.

Lead through his evidence by Gralio’s legal representative advocate Saleem Khan, Young brought the commission back to the original theory that beam seven played a major role in the collapse.

He confirmed that the portion of the mall that collapsed in November last year, killing two people and injuring 29, was not properly braced.

Khan, and commissioner Phumudzo Maphaha, asked Young to comment on whether Ballack’s original designs were followed on site.

Young responded that beam seven appeared to have been constructed as per the design, but the supporting columns were not, which could have triggered the collapse.

Extensive discussions also took place around Ballack’s supervision, or lack thereof, of the site and whether his designs were being followed.

Cross examination continues this afternoon.