The George building collapse in South Africa has now claimed the lives of 33 individuals, as more victims were recovered on Tuesday. Twenty people are still missing, while thirteen are hospitalized.
Despite a week passing since the incident, the cause of the collapse remains unknown, prompting continued rescue operations and investigations by Western Cape authorities.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has admitted the government’s limited knowledge of the main contractor involved. The absence of registration requirements for private projects allows such gaps in information. However, Minister Zikalala emphasized the necessity of regulatory enhancements, citing the CIDB Amendment Bill to improve compliance and enforcement in the construction sector.
Simultaneously, the South African Council for the Projects and Construction Management Professions is investigating whether the contractors were properly registered. This underscores the importance of accountability and adherence to industry standards in preventing similar tragedies.