President Cyril Ramaphosa paid a visit to the collapsed building on 75 Victoria Street in George on Thursday, where dozens of construction workers were tragically killed when the building fell on them.
The building collapsed a fortnight ago, resulting in an intensive search after scores of workers were injured and killed when they were buried under concrete and steel.
The municipality said in a statement on Thursday that the estimated number of individuals on-site when the incident occurred was 81. A total of recovered individuals was 62, of whom 33 (27 males and six females) were deceased. Currently, 12 people were hospitalised, while 19 were unaccounted for. “Up to now, 47 victims have been linked to their families,” said the municipality.
Ramaphosa arrived on site flanked by his cabinet ministers. These included Cogta’s Thembi Nkadimeng and Labour & Employment Minister Thulas Nxes. Social Development’s Lindiwe Zulu and Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. Western Cape Premier Alan Winde showed Ramaphosa around the site.
President was joined by all stakeholders during visit to site
The president was welcomed by the Western Cape chief of disaster management, Colin Deiner. He briefed him about how he and his team had started working on site since the disaster.
George residents also came in numbers to the site, where they sang their lungs out while Ramaphosa was moving around the premises.
Ramaphosa also met with the rescue workers, who have been working 24 hours in different shifts to retrieve the bodies trapped under the debris. He expressed his gratitude for their efforts and dedication to their work when rescuing workers and recovering the deceased.
Ramaphosa also met with the families of the deceased in George Town Hall to comfort them.
He told the families that they were not the only ones who lost their loved ones but the Sadec region had also lost.
“I extend my condolences to all of you for the loss of the lives of your loved ones. I got an extensive briefing from the minister, the Western Cape premier and all other officials and rescue teams involved in this mission of rescue and recovery.
Grateful for all efforts from all involved
“I would also like to thank ordinary people in this area who came out in numbers to help, that is a sign of Ubuntu. We pass on our condolences as a collective government. Investigations are going on to establish the cause of the collapse of the building. And we are not going to leave any stone unturned,” said Ramaphosa.
He added that the government will also be assisting those who want to repatriate their loved ones to their native countries.
The president also laid flowers for the departed victims at the town hall.
Ramaphosa also greeted his supporters, who came in numbers from the area. There were loud cheers and people jumping with joy.
