NATIONAL NEWS - South Africa’s building rules are about to get a serious overhaul after a nearly year-long probe into the George building collapse on 6 May 2024, which left 34 people dead.
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane dropped another bombshell at her press conference at the Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Pretoria yesterday, Wednesday 9 April, saying the investigation showed construction at 75 Victoria Street started before George Municipality had signed off on the plans.
George Municipality in a media statement on Tuesday 8 April said they have no proof that construction started early, claiming everything was above board by the time plans were approved on 6 July 2023.
Head of communications at George Municipality Chantel Edwards said that they had not received a copy of the report under discussion and could not comment on the contents thereof. “The investigation is in the hands of the SAPS,” reads its statement.
The statement gave a broad overview of the municipality's function and responsibility regarding building plans and regulations (scan the QR code to read its full statement).
The municipality confirms approval of a five-storey building plan for Erf 15098 on 6 July 2023, after rezoning and site plan approvals in 2021 and 2022. “The municipality does not have evidence alluding that the construction commenced prior to approval of the building plan,” reads the statement.
It furthermore noted that the NHBRC, not the municipality, handles project registration and inspections.
Edwards said a 2023/24 audit found no significant issues with its building control adding that the municipality has given its full support to the inquiries by the police, the Engineering Council of South Africa and the NHBRC.
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane Photo: Instagram, department_human_settlements
Critical breaches in NHBRC
Meanwhile, the investigation slammed the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) with a hefty report exposing major slip-ups, triggering a push for tougher regulations.
The almost 300-page report, containing 300 recommendations, has prompted the suspension of implicated officials, now under police investigation, as the NHBRC’s reputation takes a hit.
Simelane highlighted critical breaches in NHBRC enrolment processes, including the misregistration of the multi-storey building as a single-storey structure, irregular inspections, and unaddressed safety concerns. Questions also surround the competency of technical managers, engineers, and quality surveyors.
“The collapse tarnished the NHBRC’s good standing,” she said, noting systemic failures that extended beyond mere oversight.
Troubling alignment
The minister pointed to municipal responsibility, suggesting a troubling alignment of lapses between the George Municipality and NHBRC.
Simelane remarked during the Q&A, emphasising that NHBRC registration depends on prior municipal processes. “The relationship between our officials and the municipality raises concerns.”
George Municipality's statement on Tuesday explains their role in the construction of a building, with specific reference to the Neo Victoria multi-storey building. They also re-released a press statement issued on 10 May last year, regarding rezoning and building applications, which details the sequence of events. “The developer with his professional team is not obliged to submit any compliance report to the municipality,” reads the statement.
“The normal practise is that the owner and developer, together with their professional team will have weekly/bi-weekly or monthly meetings and inspections where progress reports are submitted to the owner/client. This practice is done with no input from the Municipality and current applicable legislation does not demand that this information is submitted to the Municipality.”
NHBRC report
Among the report’s 300 recommendations are a dedicated peer review team for high-risk projects, full-time technical managers on-site during key phases, and a ban on staff using others’ credentials to approve applications. Homeowners and builders will face stricter rules, and a simplified inspection request process will empower the public to flag issues. “These changes aim to restore trust and ensure safety,” Simelane concluded, as the NHBRC braces for sweeping reforms.
Related articles:
- Building council and contractor under fire
- More officials suspended over George building collapse
- Update Victoria Str building disaster: Municipality responds to NHBRC investigative report
- George building collapse: Minister details investigative findings
- NHBRC preliminary report on building collapse
- Simelane commits to implement recommendations into George building collapse
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
Article: Sister publication, George Herald
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
