Premier Alan Winde has confirmed a preliminary report has been received by the Department of Infrastructure following a probe into the George building collapse.
He said he wanted to give space to the SAPS and the Department of Employment and Labour to complete their investigations but had also asked the provincial government through the Department of Infrastructure to conduct another investigation into the tragedy which claimed 34 lives.
Sixty-two people were retrieved from the site after the building collapsed on May 6 just after 2pm.
“I was not going to leave it to the police and Department of Labour to see why it happened,” Winde said when replying to parties yesterday following his opening of the Western Cape parliament address on Wednesday.
He said a preliminary report has been received by the Department of Infrastructure.
“They are busy working through that report and they will bring it more than likely to our next cabinet meeting. That surely will help us on the way to say we have sufficient (information) to lay charges and do whatever we have to do.”
Winde reiterated his statement that they would make sure those responsible for the tragedy face the consequences of their negligence.
“Those who are complicit in the cause of this devastating collapse need to be held to account,” Winde said.
He added that he would call for a commission of inquiry if the investigations under way were not satisfactory.
“I will call for a commission of inquiry. I do have that power in the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the legal team for Neo Victoria Developments, Neotrend Developments and East Africa Development have remained mum on the reported resignation of three directors. The companies are the landowners and company for development co-ordination and management. This comes after reports that the directors of the companies resigned following the building collapse.
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) recently placed a registered person on precautionary suspension and had called on all affected stakeholders to submit reports to assist in their further investigations. ECSA said it would respond to questions in due course.
Enquiries to the Department of Labour were not answered by deadline.
*Additional reporting by Chevon Booysen
Cape Times