KEY POINTS
- Five NHBRC officials suspended after probe reveals fraudulent approvals and safety violations contributed to George building collapse that killed 34 people.
- Contractor accused of deliberately misrepresenting project scope and bypassing regulations, with criminal charges imminent against multiple parties.
- Minister admits systemic failures but defends NHBRC’s overall record, promising technological upgrades to prevent future tragedies.
Nearly a year after the catastrophic collapse of a multi-storey building in George, Western Cape, which claimed 34 lives, Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane has announced the suspension of five National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) officials.
The minister revealed shocking details of systemic failures in the building that contributed to the tragedy during a briefing to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Wednesday.
“The investigation revealed several breaches of our occupational health and safety standards in relation to construction,” Simelane stated, highlighting how safety protocols were repeatedly ignored.
The Citizen reports that the May 2024 building collapse of the Victoria Street residential development exposed alarming regulatory gaps, including unauthorised plan alterations and fraudulent approval processes.
Contractor “cut corners” while NHBRC system failed
The probe found the contractor deliberately misrepresented the project as a single-storey building before switching to multi-storey plans without proper authorization.
Even more disturbingly, NHBRC officials allegedly bypassed digital safeguards by using a colleague’s login credentials while she was on leave to push through approvals.
“Our system enabled him to cut corners by not following standard operating procedures,” the minister admitted, confirming the building was only registered eight days after construction began – a direct violation of the mandatory 15-day pre-construction enrollment rule.
Structural engineers had reportedly raised concerns about the building’s stability months before the collapse, but these warnings went unheeded.
While two officials were initially suspended in March, that number has now risen to five as evidence mounts. Criminal charges are being prepared against both the contractor and complicit officials. The NHBRC has faced scathing criticism, though Simelane insisted this was an “isolated” failure in an otherwise “credible institution.”
