The Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry to investigate the ill-fated collapse of the house in the Eco Estate near Alberton will formally begin on Wednesday (October 29). The Inquiry will gather evidence for eight successive days until 7 November 2014.
The Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry follows the house collapse on 18 August in Meyersdal Eco Estate near Alberton that led to the deaths of seven workers, hospitalisation of nine and survival of eight workers.
This prompted the Department of Labour to appoint the Commission of Inquiry in terms of section 32 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. The Section 32 hearing is appointed to investigate acts of negligence that resulted in occupational injuries and death of workers.
Department of Labour’s Senior Specialist: Construction, Health and Safety – Phumudzo Maphaha is the Presiding Officer of the Inquiry. His fellow commissioners in the Inquiry are Department of Labour’s Principal Inspector, Christo du Preez and Specialist Inspector, Lesibe Raphela.
The interested parties expected to testify before the Inquiry include: the owner of the house; workers; foreman; insurer(s); designer; the Engineering Council of South Africa; the National Home Builders Registration Council; and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specification.
The Meyersdal Eco Estate disaster 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 resulted in the death of 14 workers in 1996.
Media is invited to the inquiry.
Date: 29 October to 7 November 2014
Time: 9:00 - 15:00 daily
Venue: Department of Labour Head Office, Laboria House 215 in Pretoria (Tshwane) at corner Paul Kruger and Francis Baard Street (formerly Schoeman Street) at Boardroom G01 ground floor. The closest entrance to the boardroom is at Francis Baard Street.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Acting Ministerial Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 808 2168
Email: mokgadi.pela@labour.gov.za
