George Building Collapse I As bodies are identified, questions arise over repatriation

The death toll in the George building collapse is now at 33, with 19 people still missing.
Deputy Minister of International Relations, Alvin Botes, has appealed for financial assistance from the public, to help repatriate the bodies of foreign nationals killed in the tragedy. For the latest updates on the building collapse in George, we cross live to SABC News reporter Lerato Fekisi.
For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

[@papama3365]

That fact that most of the deceased were undocumented proves how our system is. How does a contractor hire people without documenting them. There are people here in S.A looking for jobs in the construction sector but getting none, just cuz our spaces are taken by people who are not even from this country 😩🤦🏿‍♂️

[@user-go2kt6do8c]

Trust me... our government knows and sadly support this(though they will never t admit it publicly)....

[@Lauren_G.]

So so true!!! & now they have the audacity to ask the same unemployed & fed up South Africans to assist with funding to repatriate foreign nationals! They should be looking for the contractor responsible for this & making them pay!

[@Lauren_G.]

At this point, who do we even vote for ? Where’s the hope for our country?

[@shopekassie]

They are beating about the bush trying to avoid your questions. The next thing they will label you as "xenophobic" or "insensitive". South Africans do not have any right in this country.

[@wendygiardino1184]

We have to vote DA......it's our only option for a better future

[@thandekamgijima1871]

Even at our government school the school is full of foreigners and our kids are struggling to be admitted, we must pay private school for the it's not just construction only even in domestic work even on the factory s around western cape

[@sophyjoin7457]

Condolences to the family 😢😢

[@maritzavanloggerenberg-ot3pc]

How can it take so long?

[@colleenwait2637]

The company should help all those families that have lost a family member or loved one i think that's onely fair and to make sure that they transport is paid for to take their family members back home condolences to all who have lost a family member and loved ones 🙏

[@lindidevilliers4513]

My question remains: If undocumented people are found in South Africa, who is responsible to send them back to where they come from? I honestly don't think this scenario is any different. Irrespective if the employer is right or wrong, if there are illegal immigrants in South Africa, it remains the government's responsibility to repatriate them. Unless the goverment supports illegal immigration, hoping a private entity will take care of the problems that the goverment itself failed to prevent. Sure, keep the respective investor(s) financially responsible, but distribute those funds amongst the SA citizens and legal foreigners that suffered in this tragedy.

[@clairetomkyns175]

There are thousands of South Africans working in other countries, taking jobs there, sending their children to schools there and receiving medical services there. We must not allow xenophobia to exist in SA. The fact that SA has UNDOCUMENTED workers is as a result of the failure of our neighbours' governments. It is also a failure of our border controls. Our own government is failing and if the economic situation in SA worsens, our citizens might find themselves begging for work in other countries, too. This is a horrible tragedy and we need to view every worker involved in this collapse as a victim and empathize with them and their families. I'm sure if someone starts a fund to assist with the repatriation, the money will soon be raised. I'm hoping that the investigation will reveal an act of sabotage - especially with construction mafia everywhere, but if one of the contractors has been negligent, I doubt whether the insurers will pay out for undocumented workers. South Africans always pull together in hard times. We need to do that now for these victims.

[@Skhamnini]

Are those SAns illegally in those countrie?

[@faridaally6184]

My question too SAns have to wait for months to have their applications approved All done legal and above board

[@TeeEm24]

There are thousands of South Africans working, legally, in other countries. Paying their taxes and positively contributing to the societies they exist in. You’ll never hear of any country complaining about South Africans with fraudulent documentation, overburdening tax reserves, running criminal syndicates and being entitled to entry into these countries and benefits reserved for citizens and legal immigrants. It’s not xenophobia, it’s a legitimate observation. We have 2 million + Zimbabweans alone in this country (more than the population of Botswana, an entire country. Who is taking care of these people? Schooling them? Providing them with free accommodation (hijacked buildings and land grabs), free healthcare? Do you know that it’s costs the South African taxpayer 20k + per birth delivery in a public hospital? Statistics show that in Gauteng there are more foreign nationals giving birth there than citizens - tell me, who must continue to pay for this? When government tries to detain and deport undocumented migrants your Hellen Suzman’s and Co come running to prevent this. Government can’t even evict them from hijacked buildings because of the constant battle against “human rights” organizations. Your moral compass will not change the fact that this is a huge problem. A security risk and burden on our tax reserves. The George situation is a reflection of what’s happening in most industries in South Africa. Unemployment is a problem but let’s not pretend that the exploitation of undocumented workers doesn’t contribute to this. So government is asking the same unemployed South Africans to assist. It’s a horrible situation but look at the other side of the coin before speaking from a point of privilege.

[@Skhamnini]

And also why must it be SA that pulls together? This pple did not fall from the sky they came from defferent Countries. Let those countries pull together and come get their criminals. Remember being in any country illegally is a crime

[@thembimaseko9600]

Take them home please don't preach us

[@yoliswambebe619]

I'm wondering who's really leading SABC, their stories and interview questions are always biased and leading, no objectivity and neutrality at all.