George building collapse: Officials appeal for trauma counsellors proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, Shona
Many of the families affected by the building collapse, which has thus far resulted in the deaths of twenty construction workers, are from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Over 100 emergency and disaster personnel from various municipalities are on site to locate those still unaccounted for after a building collapsed in George on 6 May 2024, trapping construction workers. Picture: George Municipality
GEORGE - Garden Route disaster management officials have issued an urgent appeal for trauma counsellors, psychologists or clerics proficient in Chewa, Portuguese and Shona.
Many of the families affected by the fatal building collapse a week ago are from Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
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Professional psychosocial support practitioners are needed to support them and the survivors.
Twenty-four construction workers have died since the building imploded a week ago. At least 81 people were on the site at the time of the incident. Twenty-eight others remain trapped under the rubble.
Disaster management in George said it's overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for crews and volunteers at the site.
Officials have advised that there are enough volunteers on site, with names now captured on a waiting list.
The operation now has a more acute need for psychosocial support practitioners to help survivors and families waiting to hear news about their loved ones.
Interested practitioners can contact Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205.
The MEC responsible for disaster management, Anton Bredell, said: “It must have been the worst days of their lives, waiting. There are people with Social Development working with them as the families [and] also trying to identify the people in the hospital, it’s a process - a lengthy process. “
International Relations Deputy Minister Alvin Botes and representatives of the Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwean embassies will meet with families on Monday.
As the tandem rescue and demolition mission continues, crews have also appealed for donations of safety equipment including helmets, safety goggles, headlamps and construction gloves.
ZIKALALA, TEAM OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO VISIT GEORGE
Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala and a team of construction industry experts are due to visit George on Monday.
Quantity surveyors, town planners, environment practitioners and land surveyors will be part of Zikalala's delegation that will go out on a fact-finding mission.
Monday marks the 8th day since the collapse of the five-story structure in the George CBD.
Zikalala said his visit is to get firsthand information about the role of the professionals who were involved in the building project.