Relatives of George artisans say no word from construction company amid probe into collapse

GEORGE - Several independent structural engineers have visited the site of a building collapse in George.

The marathon rescue mission in the Southern Cape continues while a forensic investigation gets under way to determine the cause of the fatal fold.

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Seven construction workers died when the apartment complex collapsed on Monday, and 39 others are still trapped in the rubble.

Forty-two new apartments were due to be unveiled at 74 Victoria Road in the next few weeks.

Seventy-five artisans were putting the finishing touches to the five-storey block when it collapsed earlier this week.

The Department of Labour, South African Police Service engineers and an independent structural engineering firm appointed by the Western Cape are tracing the steps to determine what happened.

The Engineering Council of South Africa has also launched a separate probe.

With the 1,228 square meters of erf now in ruins, the relatives of the workers say the construction company has not contacted any of them.

VIGILS FOR VICTIMS

Rescuers hope to retrieve all the victims by the end of the week while their families continue to hold vigils near the site, praying for their safe return.

Dozens of families have spent the anxious wait for news about their loved ones on a pavement near the site, praying for good news.

Rose Kaira’s says her aunt was among them.

She was the newest employee to join the team and had only been working for two days.

“We pray that our God protects her where she is. She must be strong.”

Huddled between the praying woman is Savon Msiska. She’s not losing hope her 18-year-old son is alive.

“Everyone, we must pray. For now, we don’t know anything.”

Meanwhile, Bright Kayuni says he’s waiting to hear news about three people.

“As a family we are shocked. There are three people stuck in there. We don’t know if they’re under the rubble or in the hospital. We’re devastated.”

Almost two days since the collapse, rescuers have described the delicate operation as a ‘race against the clock’ to recover survivors trapped beneath the concrete slabs.