Tongaat mall investigator appointed as Grayston bridge collapse presiding inspector

Samuel has 30 years of service with the department and was the forensic investigator and co-commissioner for the Tongaat Mall structural collapse inquiry.

Samuel will preside over the formal inquiry to determine if there was any contravention of regulations which led to the collapse of the Grayston bridge.

The Grayston pedestrian bridge collapse took place on 14 October and two people were killed as a result of the collapse.

The Department of Labour Chief Inspector, Tibor Szana said that at this stage, no party stands accused of any wrongdoing leading to the collapse.

The structural bridge collapse inquiry will be held in public and is expected to last at least six months. Samuel will be expected to compile a written report which will be forwarded to the Office of the Department of Labour Chief Inspector who will hand it over to the National Prosecuting Authority.

The collapsed structure has not yet been removed from the side of the M1 highway and Samuel explained that construction company, Murray and Roberts’ request to have the structure removed was not granted since all stakeholders have not yet sufficiently documented the site of the accident.

Read Site of tragic Grayston bridge collapse cleansed, bridge construction to go ahead

Samuel added that Murray and Roberts have been requested to circulate all protocol documents by 20 November and then the request to have the structure removed would again be considered.

Samuel explained that while these processes are unfolding, The Department of Labour is continuing to gather statements and evidence.

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