New controversies have emerged involving interference with investigations, as well as a plan to auction off the site of the disaster. Deputy minister of employment and labour Jomo Sibiya meanwhile claimed police bullied officials

These claims were made at a joint parliamentary committee sitting on human settlements and public works, and infrastructure on Thursday (6/11). The May 2024 collapse involved a four-storey building under construction in George, trapping dozens of workers under rubble.

At least 28 survived, and 34 workers, many from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, were crushed to death under the weight of steel and concrete.

Deputy minister of employment and labour Jomo Sibiya. Photo: X/Jomo Sibiya, MP

“(Out of) 68 claims received by the compensation fund, only 15 were found to be South African citizens,” said Sibiya. “Twenty-eight… were death claims, while 40 were injury on duty claims.

The department of home affairs confirmed 53 were foreign nationals, of whom only one had a work permit, added Sibiya. “But even that work permit had expired, meaning even that work permit was as simple as non-existent. It was not valid.” Home affairs records thus showed that all 53 foreign nationals were illegal.

The collapsed building’s site is to be auctioned from 25 to 26 November, reports News 24. Bidding is scheduled.

The last day of the clean-up operations at the building site. Photo: george.gov.za

Locals were reportedly hoping for a memorial site to be built there, but Van’s Auctioneers CEO Martin Pretorius said the site would go on auction instead. Valued at R12 million, the property is expected to sell for between R6 million and R7 million.

Rescue teams included members of Gift of the Givers and rescue teams from the City of Cape Town, Breedevallei tech rescue, Search and Rescue South Africa, and the police.

Developers Pacific Breeze bought the 1,220 m² plot of land for around R3 million in August 2020, the Sowetan reported. Three months later, Pacific Breeze owner Carel Swanepoel applied to have it rezoned to build a three-storey block of flats.

‘The project was later increased to a four-storey structure’

However, the project was later increased to a four-storey structure with additional parking for 66 cars. The new plan was approved in January by city planner Jan Vrolijk and senior director of urban planning Clinton Petersen. Two months later, Vrolijk approved a fifth floor at the developer’s request.

Finally, rezoning plans were submitted to the municipality in December 2022 before being approved by the council in July 2023.

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