Four Zimbabweans killed in SA building collapse

Debra Matabvu

THE Government has begun the process of repatriating remains of four Zimbabwean nationals who tragically died in a building collapse at a construction site in George, Western Cape province, South Africa, earlier this month.

The collapse, which occurred on May 6, resulted in the deaths of 33 people, according to local authorities in George.

Rescue efforts managed to save 62 individuals who were trapped under the rubble.

Two additional victims remain unidentified.

According to the George Municipality, seven Zimbabweans were working at the construction site when disaster struck.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Mr David Hamadziripi said the repatriation process was underway.

The Government, he said, was collaborating with local funeral service companies with branches in South Africa, such as Nyaradzo and Zororo-Phumulani, to facilitate the return of the deceased to their families in Zimbabwe.

“I can confirm that four Zimbabweans died in the incident.

“I was in George on Thursday and the process (of repatriation) has already started,” he said.

“We are working with Nyaradzo and Zororo-Phumulani to repatriate the bodies back home.

“I understand that there is already a body that has been repatriated.”

In a statement on Friday, George Municipality said there were also foreign nationals from Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho who were working on the site on the fateful day.

Search and rescue efforts, said the municipality, have been halted, while a formal investigation is set to be conducted by the South African Department of Labour and Employment.

“Based on information received from the contractor on site, the South African Police Service and other emerging external sources (witness statements), the estimated number of individuals on site during the incident amounted to approximately 81,” reads the statement.

“We are aware that as the incident unfolded the numbers fluctuated, however, we can now officially confirm that with the rescue and recovery efforts now completed, only 62 individuals are accounted for . . .

“List of nationals present on the site is as follows: South Africa (15), Mozambique (19), Zimbabwe (7), Malawi (13), Lesotho (5), permanent residency holder (1) and unknown nationality (2).”