Labour Dept to address bridge collapse, Tongaat Mall

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Speaking to News24 on Monday, department spokesperson Mokgadi Pela said a media briefing would be held in Pretoria to discuss the bridge collapse. "The media will be given an opportunity to address the Tongaat Mall issue at this event as well."

When asked if the department would be releasing the mall report at the briefing, Pela said: "All queries will be addressed at the briefing."

After the mall collapse on 19 November 2013, the department appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by Labour Department Occupational Health and Safety Manager Phumudzo Maphaha, to investigate the reasons. It emerged the eThekwini Municipality never approved the development plans.

Durban businessman Jay Singh, whose company Gralio Precast was building the mall, said at the time the collapse was caused by its poor design. The development has since been sold.

Murray & Roberts, responsible for constructing the temporary bridge at the M1 highway in Grayston that collapsed in October, said at the time it was probing the incident.

Company spokesperson Ed Jardim said they did not immediately have all the details of the incident, but they had sent people to the scene.

One person was killed in the incident with several others sustaining serious injuries.

Source: News24

Read this report on News24Wire.com.