The Congress of South African Unions (COSATU) is deeply saddened by news of a building collapse in Redcliffe, Kwa-Zulu Natal and that one worker has been confirmed dead. Our thoughts are with the families of the affected workers at this difficult time.
COSATU is extremely concerned about the lives of the other workers who were on site when the four-storey temple building came crashing down around midday, trapping them under rubble and concrete. The building was reportedly under construction when it collapsed. We pray that the trapped workers will be rescued alive. No efforts must be spared nor time wasted to save these workers.
The Federation is very aggrieved that merely a year and a half later after the George building collapse that resulted in the death 34 workers and injured 28 others, a similar tragedy has occurred. The investigation into the George building collapse is yet to be completed, but preliminary findings have been damning against the employer.
A National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC)’s report released by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelani revealed systemic failures across several levels including that the building had not been properly registered before construction begun; approvals were not finalised before construction got underway; individuals occupying critical roles such as engineers and quantity surveyors did not possess the requisite qualifications; health and safety requirements were flouted; plus the company failed to disclose its intention to build a multi-story building but was allowed to proceed regardless.
After receiving a report in July this year, Public Works Minister Dean McPhearson said the disaster had been entirely preventable after learning that safety concerns had been flagged well before the building collapsed. The health and safety officer had even resigned in protest, but the work continued unabated.
The only comfort COSATU and the families of the deceased as well as those who were injured can draw is that the authorities are intent on ensuring that the culprits are criminally charged and imprisoned.
COSATU urges all the stakeholders including the Department of Employment and Labour and law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations of the latest disaster to uncover any wrongdoing and ensure that culprits face the full might of the law, because we cannot afford to have tragedies of this magnitude became commonplace in the construction sector or any other sector of the economy.
It is essential that not only those responsible for such tragic accidents are held fully accountable under the law and that the affected workers and their families are fully compensated by the employers and the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund for their losses.
Similarly, the Department of Employment and Labour must ramp up its inspections of all construction sites and shut down those failing to comply fully with the Occupational Health and Safet Act and all other labour laws. COSATU will be engaging government to ensure this happens.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)
079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639