Macpherson says recurrence of collapsed buildings signals need for crisis management

Minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson said the recurrence of collapsed buildings signals the need for crisis management after nine people died at a construction site in Ormonde.

He said too many lives are lost due to structural failures at construction sites.

ALSO READ:

Ormonde building collapse: Sibiya says victims eligible for compensation

Final missing body retrieved from Joburg building collapse

Collapsed building in Ormonde will be demolished – City of Joburg

Macpherson was speaking at the site of the tragedy on Tuesday, where Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the Johannesburg mayoral committee members were present.

Macpherson is calling for accountability from those responsible for the site.

He revealed that the name of the company is New Order NIV; however, he also stated that his team has not been able to locate them.

Macpherson said there are obvious system failures in the regulation process, which could be the reason why there is a growing trend of construction site disasters.

He said this presents itself as a crisis and needs to be dealt with as such, with the necessary resource allocation.

“We must confront whether there are systematic conditions that are allowing these tragedies to take place in the first place. I think that this demands now of us as national government, premier and deputy mayor, a crisis response.”

Macpherson said he engaged with the president on Tuesday night, who is committed to finding a permanent solution to the matter.