MEDIA RELEASE

Issued by Department of Labour

28 October 2015

Department of Labour to set up Section 32 Inquiry

to comb for further evidence into Grayston Drive
pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge collapse
The Department of Labour is to set-up a Section 32 Inquiry to dig deeper
as to the causes and who is to blame for the collapse of scaffolding work
into the Grayston Drive Pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge collapse
that led to the deaths of two people and injury to 19 others.
Department of Labour Deputy Director-General, Aggy Moiloa told a media
a briefing at the departmental head office in Pretoria (Tshwane) today that
the department was duty bound to in terms of the Occupational Health
and Safety (OHS) Act to investigate incidents of this nature.
The Section 32 hearing is usually appointed by the Department of Labour
to investigate negligence that may have resulted in occupational injuries
and death of workers.
The latest Section 32 Inquiry will more or less operate like the recent
Tongaat Mall Structural Collapse Inquiry and the Meyersdale House
Collapse Inquiry.
The 14 October 2015 incident which happened at approximately 15:25 led
to the death of two people; injury to 19 persons; and three are still critical
in Hospital, nine were discharged, two admitted ad five are in stable
condition.
Parties involved in the project were the City of Johannesburg and the
Johannesburg Development Agency who were clients that appointed Royal
HaskoningDHV as an agent. Murray & Roberts is the principal contractor
and the supplier of material involved in an incident is Formscaff.

The matter was reported to Bramley Police Station and is being

investigate. The Department first visited the scene of the tragedy on 14
October 2015.
Department labour Chief Inspector, Tibor Szana said preparation to set-up
the Commission of Inquiry are underway and the name of the presiding
officer would be announced soon. Szana said at this stage the department
would not rely on hearsay, innuendos and rumours, it was for this reason
that we are establishing a Section 32 Inquiry to gather further evidence.
The Inquiry may take at least six months, he said there were many
parties involved in the matter. He said at this stage the department was
not apportioning any blame, but seek to gather more facts. He said the
outcome of the Inquiry may result in prosecution based on evidence
gathered. Szana said the department has served a prohibition notice for
work not to proceed on site until all safety and legislative requirements
are complied with.
Once set up, the Grayston Drive Pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge
collapse Inquiry will focus but, not limited to the following:
The responsibility of the client in terms of construction
regulations
The responsibility of the principal constructor in terms of the
construction regulations and as an employer
The responsibility of the agent on behalf of the client in terms
of the same regulations
Supplier of materials
Design
Once the Commission has completed its evidence gathering it is expected
it will prepare a report of its findings and formulate recommendations
which will be presented to Labour Minister and the Directorate of Public
Prosecutions for their consideration.
Meanwhile, the reports on the Tongaat Mall Structural Collapse Inquiry and
the Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry are nearing conclusion.
Recommendations on the outcomes of the inquiries could be known three
weeks.
Issued by Department of Labour Communication Directorate
Mokgadi Pela
Acting Chief Director: Communication
082 808 2168