The SAPS investigation into the George building collapse is now 65% complete.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says he met
with Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General, Thembisile Patekile on
Friday to receive a progress update.
‘’The lead investigator in this case, Captain
Johan de Lange, was also present. Premier Winde and Lt Gen Patekile agreed that
it must be urgently concluded, but that the investigation must be thorough and
the case watertight to stand up to prosecutorial scrutiny,’’ said Regan Thaw,
Premier Winde’s spokesperson.
The Premier cautioned, “We cannot allow this
matter to be tried in the media. This will not offer the survivors, their
families, and the relatives of those who died any closure. They deserve to have
this matter handled professionally and transparently, with care and compassion.”
Thaw said Winde urged the commissioner to take
the necessary steps to expedite this matter, as the SAPS is the lead agency
responsible for investigating incidents of this nature.
At the end of January, the Premier handed overthe report containing the structural engineering findings from the independent
investigation commissioned by the Western Cape Government into the disaster to
Lt Gen Patekile and the investigation team.
‘’The provincial government deemed it necessary
to launch its own investigation, given the scale of the tragedy and its
profound impact on the residents of the province. The Western Cape Government
firmly believes that the technical findings in the report are of such a nature
that they will assist the SAPS investigation. Premier Winde has undertaken to
write to certain stakeholders to urge them to also expedite their
investigations,’’ said the Premier’s office.
Winde also confirmed that given the nature of
the incident, the findings of the Western Caper Government assessment will not be
made public, as he says, it will compromise the SAPS investigation.
Done By: Mitchum George
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