The Department of Labour will commence with an Inquiry in terms of section 32 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act with all identified parties following the recent collapse of a house in the Meyersdal Eco Estate near Alberton, that led to the death of seven workers, hospitalisation of nine and survival of eight workers.
Department of Labour’s Senior Specialist: Construction, Health and Safety - Phumudzo Maphaha who will chair the meeting has since been appointed to head the Section 32 commission of inquiry.
Maphaha will use Thursday’s meeting to unveil terms of reference of the Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry and details on when the Commission will start its formal hearing.
The Section 32 hearing is usually appointed by the Department of Labour against parties whose negligence results in occupational injuries and death of workers. Maphaha will be assisted in the Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry by Department of Labour’s officials - Principal Inspector, Christo du Preez and Specialist Inspector, Lesibe Raphela.
Expected at the meeting and formal inquiry will be nine teams with interest in the collapse of the double-storey house. These include the Department of Labour; the owner; foreman; employees; designer; Ekurhuleni City Council; the Engineering Council of South Africa; the National Home Builders Registration Council; and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specification.
Maphaha said Thursday’s meeting was about to introduce all stakeholders to the public and define roles and expectations once the formal Inquiry begins its work. He said the intention of the Commission was to dispose of its work as soon as possible.
“The Inquiry should not waste time on frivolous issues. We intend to have a shorter Inquiry. We want the Commission to begin its work in earnest and by December 2014 we wrap-up our work and prepare a report,” he said he expects the Inquiry to investigate the collapse in Meyersdal to begin its cross-examination of witnesses no later than the end September.
He said the process to subpoena witness will begin in earnest after Thursday’s meeting.
The Meyersdal Eco Estate near Alberton is the second biggest incident in the last 20 years that led to a high number of fatalities, surpassed only by the Injaka Bridge collapse in Mpumalanga that led to the death of 14 workers in 1996.
The Meyersdal Eco Estate house collapsed on 18 August. Meanwhile, the Department of Labour on Monday, 25 August its Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) Branch conducted a blitz, which resulted in nine housing projects being stopped in the same area (Meyersdal) - following non-compliance with construction regulations and safety standards.
Media is invited to the meeting.
Venue: Department of Labour’s Provincial Labour Centre Office at Concillium Building, 239 Nana Sita (formerly Skinner Street), Boardroom 1113 at 11th Floor. The building is located between Paul Kruger Street and Thabo Sehume (formerly Andries Street).
Date: Thursday, 28 August 2014
Time: 10h00
Contact:
Mokgadi Pela, Acting Ministerial Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 808 2168
