Western Cape Government Premier hands over George building collapse disaster investigation report to SAPS
Western Cape Government Premier Alan Winde officially handed over the report containing the structural engineering findings from the independent investigation commissioned by the Western Cape Government, into the 6 May 2024 George building collapse to Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile and Captain Johan de Lange, the lead investigator on the matter from the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Thursday, 30 January 2025.
The building, which was still under construction when it collapsed, resulted in the death of 34 people and serious injury to many others. 28 people were rescued alive in a multi-stakeholder disaster operation.
At the time, the Western Cape Government understood that the event would have repercussions for human lives and livelihoods and that an investigation into its cause would be essential. And so, at the same time that the multi-stakeholder operation was underway, the WCG secured the services of an independent structural engineering firm to conduct an investigation of the collapse site, simultaneous to the rescue operation.
It is the full, final report of this firm, which was peer-reviewed, to ensure its integrity, that has now been handed over to SAPS.
This probe is one of several that were launched, with the SAPS being the lead body responsible for investigating an incident of this nature.
The report is now in the domain of the SAPS which must consider both the findings of this independent report and all other evidence in their possession as part of the overall criminal investigation to determine if charges are to be brought. The technical findings in the report are of such a nature that the Western Cape Government believes they will significantly assist the SAPS investigation.
Given the nature of the incident and the fact that 34 people tragically lost their lives, it is entirely possible that criminal proceedings may ensue. It is for this reason that the findings of the independent probe cannot be made public, so that we do not in any way compromise the SAPS investigation and further possible proceedings.
The findings that stem from the various agencies’ investigations must be consolidated to ensure an overall understanding of what transpired and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“I want to acknowledge the forethought and hard work of the staff in our government who along with many other partners worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped on the site and thought about the importance of commissioning this report to understand the causes of this collapse. I also want to thank the independent team, which came on board for concluding this investigation carefully, and as speedily as possible. I appreciate the commitment that all of you have shown to get this done right. There must be consequences for those responsible for this horrific tragedy. We have now handed over the report to the SAPS, who we have been assured are working tirelessly on this case, and we will continue to monitor this matter very closely,” emphasised Premier Winde.
“I will never forget being there when our teams recovered Gabriel Guambe alive from the site over 100 hours after its collapse. It is for him, for Delvin Safers, for their peers and friends who made it out alive and for those who succumbed, and the families of the victims, that justice must be delivered,” concluded Premier Winde.
Should court proceedings follow the investigative process, the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety Court Watching Brief Unit will closely monitor its progress.
Quote of the week “Fire chiefs need to stop telling city managers what resources they need to do the job, and start telling them what job they can do with the resources they have.” ~ Fire Chief Alan V Brunacini
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Cape Winelands firefighters contain fire in Du Toitskloof Pass
It was a busy night for firefighters in the Du Toitskloof Pass area where a fire broke out on Sunday, 9 February 2025. The Cape Winelands District Municipality said that strong wind fuelled the active fire lines but teams have been able to contain the fire. Fire vehicles and crew from the Paarl base, together with a ground team from NCC and choppers from Leading Edge Aviation and Provincial Disaster Management were deployed.
One of the UK’s first firefighting robots arrives in Kent
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has become one of the first services in the UK to add a firefighting robot to its equipment. The new piece of technology will be used to protect firefighters and reduce the impact of an incident on the community. It will be sent into large incidents, such as fires at industrial and commercial sites, which are particularly difficult and risky to help give firefighters a better understanding of what they’re dealing with.
13 taxis, four sprinter buses and a car burned at Nyanga taxi rank, Cape Town
More than fifteen taxis were destroyed in a fire at the Nyanga taxi rank in Cape Town as a result of the ongoing Cape Amalgamated Taxi association (CATA) in-fighting on Sunday, 9 February 2025. Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson at the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Fire and Rescue Service received the call about the fires at the Nyanga taxi rank at approximately 22h30. Several taxis, Sprinter buses and a private vehicle were alight when crews arrived on the scene.”
56 dead after Guatemala bus plunges into ravine
On the early morning of Monday, 10 February 2025, a bus veered off a bridge and fell into the Las Vacas River, in the Zone 6, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Guatemala. The crash killed at least 54 people and injured nine others. At around 04h20 (GMT-6), a densely packed bus, an extra-urban transport unit owned by Transportes Tineca Sociedad Anónima and carrying more than 70 passengers, was going into Guatemala City from El Progreso Department, when it collided with other vehicles and fell approximately 20 metres off of Puente Belice, a highway bridge that crosses over a road in Las Vacas River, a sewage-polluted river in the capital.
City of Tshwane firefighters respond to bus accident in De Wagensdrift, near Kwamhlanga
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a second bus accident to happen in three days. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “This latest bus accident occurred when a bus carrying multiple passengers was involved in a collision with a heavy-duty truck on the Moloto Road (R573), in De Wagensdrift near KwaMhlanga, on the morning of Wednesday, 5 February 2025.”
Hero dog stops Detroit firefighter’s suicide attempt
He let himself slip into a dark place. With a gun in his hand, the Detroit firefighter’s life was seconds from ending until an unlikely hero stepped in. “It kind of all snowballed,” recalled Matt Dunaj. “It was a perfect storm and it all led up to that moment.” Dunaj said he knew he wanted to help people since he was young. On the outside, he has the look of a firefighter but on the inside, the years on the job were taking a toll. “It adds up. Especially if you don’t deal with it the proper way,” Dunaj said. ”It’ll come back and haunt you.”
Rescue mission to retrieve illegal miners trapped at disused mine in Roodepoort, Johannesburg
A rescue operation has been halted at the Rand Lease Mine in Florida, Roodepoort, where two alleged illegal miners are trapped underground. “The search and rescue operation at Rand Lease Mine in Roodepoort has been suspended due to safety concerns. However, alternative approaches will be considered after intelligence assessments to ensure a safe and effective response. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” said City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi on Monday, 10 February 2025.
A day in the life of a Vallejo firefighter
Vallejo Fire Department is a department full of grit, wit and determination. Follow along with Firefighter Marques at Station 21 to see a day in the life of a Vallejo firefighter and what you can expect to learn from a ride-along.
Source: Becoming A Firefighter
Four people burnt beyond recognition in multi-vehicle crash near Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Four people were killed on Monday morning, 10 February 2025, during a multiple vehicle collision between a light delivery vehicle (LDV) and two sedans on the N4 toll road between Karino and Nelsville near Mbombela in Mpumalanga. Two Volkswagen Polo sedans were travelling from Karino towards Nelsville when one of the two sedans first collided with a bakkie and the other sedan crashed into the two vehicles that had already collided head on.
US Army Corps begins clearing tons of fire debris in Altadena and Pacific Palisades
In a pivotal milestone in Los Angeles County’s long road to recovery from the deadly wildfires in early January, the US Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, began clearing debris from burned properties in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The cleanup marks the start of a years-long rebuilding process for thousands of Californians who lost homes and businesses in the Eaton and Palisades fires. More than 9 400 structures were destroyed in Altadena and more than 6 800 in Pacific Palisades.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Fire department company operations officer – what it takes to be a success by Colin Deiner
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Fire department company operations officer – what it takes to be a success written by Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 3 no 2). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
Fire stations of the world: Poudre Fire Authority Station 8, Timnath, Colorado, US
Poudre Fire Authority’s Station No 8 is a mansion compared to the aged brick building that once served as the staging area for firefighters whose coverage area centred on Timnath and stretched to east Fort Collins in Colorado in the US. Crews that were temporarily housed in a trailer during the roughly nine-month construction project moved into the high-tech, hyper-efficient Station No 8 on 23 December 2016, with Saturday, 28 January 2017 marking the new fire station’s public unveiling and official grand opening ceremony.
Technology: ‘It’s the fastest ambulance in the world’: Inside the Medical Car’s crucial role in F1
When the often frantic first lap of a Grand Prix has been completed, there is just one car on the grid that brings relief when it peels back into the pits having not been needed. That vehicle is of course the Medical Car, which follows behind the pack on Lap 1 to be quick on the scene in the case of any incidents. A familiar sight alongside the Safety Car, the Medical Car is on hand to get Medical Delegate Dr Ian Roberts and a local doctor to the location of an accident as quickly and safely as possible and driving duties are shared by Bruno Correia and Karl Reindler.
Fitness: Firefighter workout
A great firefighter workout!
Source: adrianamador89
Training: SCBA emergency procedures
SCBA emergency procedures
Source: Ryan G
Vintage: 1969: New ambulance put to the test
“Only too often, ambulances are not originally designed to do their specialised job.” Richard Bebb narrates a short film about a new ambulance, which, rather than adapting the chassis of an existing vehicle, has been designed from scratch, over a period of two years, to meet Health Ministry recommendations. How will this new vehicle fair when responding to an emergency? In Surrey, a mock road accident has been set up, to find out.
Source: BBC Archive
Inspiration: Great leaders
A great leader is someone who embodies several key qualities that inspire and motivate others to achieve their best. These individuals possess strong communication skills, allowing them to convey their vision clearly and effectively. They demonstrate empathy and emotional intelligence, understanding the needs and concerns of their team members, which fosters a supportive and collaborative environment. Great leaders also exhibit integrity, consistently acting in an ethical manner and earning the trust of those around them. Moreover, they show decisiveness and resilience, making informed decisions under pressure while remaining adaptable to change. By empowering others, encouraging innovation and leading by example, great leaders create a strong foundation for success and inspire others to reach their full potential.
Source: Leadership First
Just for fun
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles and in any corresponding comments are the opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fire and Rescue International editorial team or its management.
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