What could be the cause of building collapse in George?

Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering at Wits University Yunus Ballim discusses with Mitchell Craig the potential causes behind the collapse of a building in George, which tragically resulted in the loss of several lives and left numerous individuals unaccounted for.
Tune into Newzroom Afrika DStv channel 405 for more.

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

I was born and raised in George where my dad worked as a building inspector from the late 70's to early 2000's. I distinctly remember visiting building sites, with my dad during holidays . You would often see a site stand still for a week or two after every foundation/slab was cast. During this period the slab would be kept wet to slow curing and keep temperatures down in the concrete. It no longer happens.

[@trishennaidoo1309]

21 days at the least after each level is poured on a residential building is the standard

[@fredperry523]

Thd going rate to bribe a building inspector these days is R5000. I know of a building inspector in Milnerton who was bribed for R25k.

[@MusehanaH]

Concrete is expected to have reached it's full strength in 28 days and correctly so, one would not be expected to start building on the fresh foundation concrete before the concrete has fully set. However, engineers do allow the addition of concrete columns, beams and slabs provided that the bottom slabs remain fully supported until the concrete has reached the required strength.

[@howardsmith1685]

@@trishennaidoo1309 "supposed to be the standard " yes however in this day n age you lucky if now it cures for even 7 days before starting the next pour. i cringe daily when i see even houses going up.

[@quintinhands]

I had a conversation with a building contractor, he said that after a couple days the concrete is 25% cured and you can build 25%of the next level. And thats how all the local contractors think where I am, and ALL the houses built here crack in less than a year

[@deanoclothier8426]

Prof has said it! "...the lower levels of human behavior has no bottom..."! I put it this way. There is nothing about the behaviour of human beings that surprises me! "Profit before people!"

[@BeXEllenttoeachother]

The professor's response is what you'd expect from a wise professional and academic. The host's question deserves serious consideration.

[@eisbeinGermany]

and we can think what ethnic person was the designer of the building

[@BeXEllenttoeachother]

@@eisbeinGermany You have no basis for arriving at any conclusions.

[@eisbeinGermany]

@@BeXEllenttoeachother then you don't live in South Africa since 1994

[@_theerealnono_7694]

​​@@eisbeinGermanyWho told you it was an "ethnic" person? You sound bigoted.

[@jacobusjonck2172]

I read somewhere that the designer is Athol Mitchell from Paarl.

[@ianoverll692]

The professor make much sense.

[@faniecremer4899]

The first person that speaks sense.

[@patrickcannell2258]

It is possibly still our best civil faculty. Although UCT guys have spoken sense.

[@deondebeer4373]

As a Director of a major construction company i can with evidence also bring under the Prof the following information - an ex student qualified Engineer from a Cape Town Varsity applied to us for an engineer position - after my investigation of her qualification i found that her maths marks in matric were 27% and science 32% - I contact the the head of that dept and ask him how is it possible that with this marks did she ever qualified to enter an engineering degree - i still await a response from them - these problem as George is going to happens more in the future with the Varsities that push incompetent Professionals In the market

[@lwandongonyama3743]

Obviously that one paid his/her way in. 27% that's level two in mathematics, it's impossible for that person to comprehend the level of mathematics that is offered at varsity. I myself was on a waiting list for civil engineering even though I was meeting the minimum requirements for admission. I got admitted purely on luck due to availability of space.

[@BongelaMnguni]

That's why it's important to do a background check of an institution for a particular qualification. There are many desperate institutions in this country. It should be a norm that every institution that offers Engineering, there must be a minimum 70% for math and science for admission

[@4mileseast478]

Unqualified Construction Company Owners questionably getting their horrendous building plans passed. Whosoever passed the plans should be held accountable also, because this is their work. People entrusted with keeping South Africans safe, are bending the rules for one reason or the other, mostly incompetence or kickbacks. Now people are dead, must the responsible parties be allowed to go on have a hotdog and go on to build other condemned buildings?

[@harryclarencealexander9161]

You've nailed it. Greed and corruption.

[@edwinnetto6248]

Company owners are not holding shovels, pouring concrete or laying bricks, the workers who are trapped are the people who do these functions!

[@jacobusjonck2172]

You are wrong. The design engineer is responsible.

[@jeremyreid9582]

@@jacobusjonck2172 you are obviously not an engineer !

[@jacobusjonck2172]

@@jeremyreid9582 sorry, but I only have 40 years experience as a structural engineer

[@louisuperfly]

My initial thoughts were and I stick to them. Poor workmanship, fly by night Contractors who just wants to make a quick buck and vanish. Quality control standards was bypassed and things got signed off without the proper inspections. Now it came and bit them in the ass. Unfortunate for all the victims and families involved. Condolences

[@faniecremer4899]

The quality of imported cement as well as slump tests and cube tests.

[@bonelelamene7918]

Poor workmanship. Cheap material... Fast track the project equals disaster. The families should sue wc public works and construction company.

[@harryclarencealexander9161]

Poor design, corruption in passing plans and overloading of basement columns rather than workmanship is the likely cause.

[@eisbeinGermany]

and ethnic people in new SA being contracted to do the work,

[@eisbeinGermany]

@@Leslie54272 I stayed in South Africa until January 2018,I know that since 1994 most of the highly qualified white men like me were retrenched to make way for unqualified people who bought,buys their qualifications,

[@sandilsgqoboka4303]

Emeritus Prof Billim, one of the best in the country

[@anneleonard739]

Such a calm and informative expert. I hope millions saw this interview.

[@steveleroux6116]

Try the construction mafia cutting corners on materials costs and total incompetence

[@premilajohn5693]

The construction mafia has been a scourge to the building industry, I know of companies who have had to shut down because of these criminals! They are all over in each industry they have formed gangs to extort money ! All with the blessing of the anc government,to whom lives do not matter

[@MusehanaH]

Is that what happened in this case?

[@leoniea138]

Lot of buildings going up fast in our town....its really scary...

[@anthonysalgado5118]

It will happen as in China a lot of these structures will be collapsing soon.

[@Arti-ficiallyChi]

What happened to SABS approved material? ..

[@sophiaotto7513]

Question I more than often ask

[@johnnyeveritt5695]

Recent Past Investigations Reveal That The SABS Is NOT Of The Reputation and / or Technical Capability Of Decades Past; Failing In Various Sectors Of Its Responsibility and Oversight .... ! 😡💩🪰

[@MusehanaH]

@johnnyeveritt5695, quit lying...The SABS in any event will not be able to test every bag of cement that comes out of a factory. That is not what they do. You also will not point to any collapse now and in the past where SABS was at fault.

[@eisbeinGermany]

vanished in 1994

[@pietervanbreda4360]

BEE

[@dantevanniekerk]

has the contractor LIATEL owner been found, and interviewed??? where is Theuns and what does he have to say for himself and his actions???

[@jeanoliver3573]

my heart goes out to everyone who is assisting to get our brothers and sisters ❤

[@user-md4op6ko3y]

Well said Professor a man of knowledge

[@tanagwembe2348]

So it was a catastrophic failure. Well said Prof. Good assessment. Its painful, when speed and pressure is put on a Contractor, thereby compromising quality and ultimate safety.

[@basedsigma5634]

Build with proper ratio of cement, with qualified civil engineers.

[@sizwes1771]

Accelerated construction, lack of back propping, and the urgency for occupation have killed so many people.

[@user-ci7co6mo8p]

Key word QUALITY.

[@ARenewedmind]

For sure there must be investigating the people who work for the municipality and have to approve initial design, intermittent inspections and quality testing of concrete etc. So heads must roll surely?

[@MkuluClive-ls5qj]

Were the slabs tied over the colours or not? This has happened before. The slab slides down the columns.

[@riaanenyolande]

When was this building completed

[@earlstonmorton8336]

Good morning well spoken prof....it's all about rushing building work.....I still believe any brickwork must stand to rest it's not about overnight and continuing next day.....

[@not.likely]

As the Prof says, there's a possibility of a combination of problems at play, not just one. Hubrous hasn't been mentioned as one. Well, it's not actually a practise as such, but it allows a dangerous attitude to prevail that works contra best practises.

[@JohnComley]

There are two reasons for such a collapse: 1. Poor Structural Design - which is the responsibility of the structural engineer, and 2. Poor Construction - which, in a catastrophic failure such as this, could be the cutting of corners on steel used in the floor/roof slabs and columns, and/or the grade/quality of the concrete used. Another potentially fatal practice is the rotation of floor/roof slab support scaffolding for use in higher floor/roof slabs, meaning that support scaffolding on lower floor/roof slabs is removed for use higher up in the structure to save on scaffolding hiring costs, but if removed before the concrete has reached the required strength, this practice can lead to a catastrophic failure of the now unsupported (scaffolding removed) lower floor/roof slab, which now has the full weight of the freshly cast floor/roof slab above transferred onto the unsupported slab through the support scaffolding of the upper floor/roof slab, which happens to be a FAR higher dead load than what the floor/roof slabs are designed for (ie. humans and furniture). I'm not a betting man, but if I was asked to hazard a guess, it would be THIS: the removal of scaffolding on lower floor/roof slabs, possibly combined with skimping (cutting back to save money) on reinforcing steel in the floor/roof slabs and columns, and possibly the use of low grade concrete (again, to save money). A video I watched shows NO top reinforcing steel in the collapsed slab, as well as completely 'clean' reinforcing bars, a sure sign that the concrete was under-strength. RIP to those poor souls lost, and condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones. NOTE: This is speculation ONLY based on what I have seen!

[@jeanoliver3573]

In my prayers and thoughts

[@user-md4op6ko3y]

Apparently the plans were changed quite late to build another floor

[@leonhue722]

Looks like a sub-economic apartment block where everything is done cheap and nasty. If there wasn't any obvious signs beforehand, such as structural cracks, creaking and cracking sounds, doors beginning to not close etc and pipes starting to leak then I'd speculate that there was a catastrophic failure in the foundations.

[@Randomequestrian-pm4hl]

It was under construction so I'm not sure doors were even in yet? Likewise plumbing pipes might not have been in, and if they were, would probably not even be operational.

[@leonhue722]

​@Randomequestrian-pm4hl An earlier report stated that workers were just adding the finishing touches ???

[@Randomequestrian-pm4hl]

@@leonhue722 I don't disagree, although in the tragedy and chaos reports are understandably a bit variable. My impression is that the structure was not at a "finishing touches" stage but I think time and a deep and proper investigation will give answers. I certainly hope the truth, whatever it proves to be, will be found. At least to the point of preventing any other repeat events to this terrible loss of life.

[@leoniea138]

I loved studying at Wits back in the day

[@uefa6723]

Prof Elvin was a nightmare, but he gave us the edge.

[@gordonpillay1445]

Nothing is unfortunate it's stupidity

[@kaizershozei8720]

I agree.....just as most vehicle accidents are not "accidents"

[@ROBO979]

In a nut shell 1. design checks were they done by competent engineers and passed. 2. Contractors credentials and competence checked by owners and engineers. 3. Were strict safety measures and standards in place, practised and adhered to.4. Were the relevant quality inspections done on materials before construction commenced and approved by engineers. 5. Site management and supervision and Quality inspector competency checked and approved. Any incompatence found in any of the above could of played a part in collapse of this building. Speculativly Regarding Construction mafia, demanding payment of up to 30% of contract value, it may lead to contractor cutting corners during construction regarding quality and sans specifications

[@janvanheerden4681]

Shoddy workmanship and inferior materials.

[@Mothernature_voice]

My dad studied at wits, was a qs with g5, g5 is now gone. I audit construction sites... Shortcuts.

[@user-ll8hn6dz2j]

Not enoughf drying time for concrete and removing seports to soon. Can be mixeture of cement was to little building to fast upper level witch can cause concrete slab to give way colap s. My opinion

[@krishgounder5116]

What are the responsibilities of the Building Inspectors? 😢.

[@neostiny6076]

Where is the SABS these days?

[@anthonysalgado5118]

Where did they buy the concrete and cement?????

[@liongod1000]

*_ NO DOUBT .... CHINESE!! _*

[@lielasmotivationstation]

The question will remain, are all the employment involved in this construction corporate and trained in the position they work? Because the big problem in South Africa today are that people who trained for how many years doesn't get jobs cause they suddenly need matric. I dont see that matricilants are trained to construct buildings or any skilled work whatsoever. How many lives are still going to take before people realize what going on here

[@liongod1000]

*_ "EVERY Tom, Dick and Harry with a Trowel & Spirit Level is now a BUILDER"!! _*

[@ahmedseedat2272]

Imported and locally produced cement are subject to regulatory testing in South Africa. The Prof should have his facts in place.

[@meisievannancy]

Also wetting cement does not weaken it. It actually is better to keep it wet longer to make concrete stronger.

[@liongod1000]

@@meisievannancy *_ He said WHILE IT WAS POURED..... Not after it was Cast! _*

[@meisievannancy]

​@@liongod1000Wet concrete settles and the water drains off. Too wet then could cause the mix to not be homogenous but trucks arriving with water and too little concrete is unlikely as the consistency will be draining water off constantly and the developers would complain they are getting trucks of water and not cement.

[@carelwentzel2030]

We can not wait time is money short cut prof is quite correckt.

[@marthadaffue3430]

A 5th floor was added???

[@harryclarencealexander9161]

Greed and corruption

[@obySedgefieldgemofourgardenrou]

How can they just add another floor,once the first floors are cast surely another floor cant be added,lots of investigations,lots of shenanigans go on with projects today,wasnt there a collapse in kwazulu a few yrs back

[@jacobusjonck2172]

They also added a parking basin and it were those lower columns that failed from the footage I saw.

[@chrisnothnagel4910]

100% prof

[@luckyngcobo6073]

Why deleted my comment?

[@Mocheso22]

If you watch closely, you could see dust cloud blown from beneath prior whole structure collapsed. Indication that the failure came from ground level, suspect could be poor structure load distribution. 2, From one worker interviewed, the pillar spacing at ground level was too wide. That makes sense as the building collapsed vertically/inward. 3, From the photos of the building as the construction was undergoing, the building was covered in bricks, with few large window spaces. This old architect design that rendered the buildings super heavy. Hence nowadays budings use glass and aluminium to cover the building and partition the rest of the interior. That reduces significant weight.

[@mornevandenberg296]

Price before quality

[@06Shibby]

Everyone in the comments have valid points, but dont forget the architects and designers and ultimately the client that owns the build needs to be blamed too, they constantly change designs and modify plans and then still push builders and contractors to perform and push to complete on time, and what happens then, whats the reward for being pushed, nothing but a nice mail saying that late penalties will be enforced, which isn’t a couple of hundred rands per day, its thousands. So that gets pushed onto contractors and then shortcuts are taken, is the concrete slab cured correctly, no sir, but it should hold! The world is in a rush, good things come to those who wait, but not anymore and definitely not to those waiting for their family member’s to come home. May God bless them and their loved ones under that mountain of stress, impatience and disappointment. I would like to see the architects and clients on site and helping people out of the dirt they put them in, maybe their eyes will open.

[@dirktjallinks5781]

There are some serious protocols to be followed when a building is constructed. Firstly the structural engineer is responsible for the design of the structural elements such as foundations, floor slabs and columns. Secondly he is also responsible to inspect the works such as the steel specification, concrete strength etc. as well as the time schedule when support scaffolding may be removed. I'm not making any accusations but neglecting these issues can lead to this type of tragedy. The council which approved the plans cannot be held accountable because they take no responsibility for structural integrity. Therefore I can only find 2 parties accountable for this accident and that is the structural design engineer and the main contractor. If there was a project manager full time on site he could also be questioned when it comes to materials being stacked on areas causing overloading.

[@user-sm3ex4pf7z]

Very sad what happened?? At the same breath...think of it...the lives that departed were sacrifices to the more or worse scenario if this incident took place after occupation!!?? It would have catastrophic...things happen in this country

[@dharammagovender6033]

Unqualified builders

[@dumisanisibanda7772]

Time lines, cost savings, rush rush rush.. this is the results

[@patrickcannell2258]

Root of all this is money and again money.

[@anthonyschimper7585]

IN MY OPINION BEE CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE

[@user-js5fe5kt4j]

Thats the thing given unqualified guys these type of tenders 😮

[@boitumelomasipa4990]

I raise my eyebrows because the problems prof identifies don't adequately point to the probable wrongdoing from the people who were likely to make money on this structure… Blaming the quality of the cement, a worker putting water on some cement or driving a truck on the site, workers building too fast, workers being poorly trained and not properly supervised. Amazing! What about the chance of commercial interests overriding protocols and not being willing to take warnings from concerned workers? Watch the News24 interview of a constructor who was in sight of you and is interested in a less theoretical explanation. May God rest the souls who died 🙏🏿

[@mbothosiyah696]

Look at the Rebars diameter.

[@ingrid20234]

If a design and construction flaw, will the whole truth ever emerge ? The blame game will cause much confusion ? Obfuscations ? Cover-ups. Greed? Short-cuts? Race for time to finish the project as indicated and promised ? Competence, training and oversight of construction workers. Yes, sabotage crossed my mind as well. This will not be a surprise. The construction mafia wanting to send a message to all new construction projects, especially with the truly sad loss of multiple lives and the consequent brand, image and financial implications ? Greed is such an awful social disease.

[@MusehanaH]

Sorry but I do not care if an expert or professor is speculating what the cause could be, the fact is that, it is still a speculation. What he has raised are ifs, buts, apparently's, could be that...all of which are still speculations and rumours. The fact is that there are checks and balances to be used to emsure that inferior material is never used and that happens throughout the construction process...At the end of the day, someone is responsible and the only way to identify that someone is to first conclude what the cause of the collapse was

[@aivarspriede5145]

Collect minutes of every site meeting..any piece of paper relevant to the construction...vos ...site diaries...concrete cube records ...clients instructions...foundation tests. In court where this will end up anything is admissable as evidence.

[@TheRadRingo]

100% chance there was no site diary on site for this project...then there would be a record of how early they started building on the foundation.

[@sybillevin7298]

Sabotage crossed my mind.

[@olgahucklesby7263]

This event is clear structural and specifications defect...overall human expertise defect ...profiteering resulting in substandard and deadly buildings

[@mbulelomankonkwana8038]

The fact that it collapsed straight down to me is suspicious.

[@marky5493]

yes me too i thought if it collapsed it would have gone straight up......

[@gordonpillay1445]

If it's said serious neglect why isn't the owners brought to justice fast. An expert has said it. What r the police waiting for

[@powertechnical]

So the police must just arrest people without a proper investigation? Engineers must first inspect all elements to identify the root cause.

[@user-js5fe5kt4j]

Unqualified its that simple then you wonder how these people get the tender 😮so many people died due to corners being cut

[@MadeinSA658]

So in other words BEEeeee.....😢😢

[@user-yk6do2ou5f]

That is the tesult of. Computer !!! Ppl dont know and think wrong !!

[@patrickcannell2258]

I am an electrical engineer. I am beginning to hate computers as people can't think for themselves anymore.

[@powertechnical]

I see the computer made you write improper sentences

[@Codydoggy]

Blah blah, we all know it was just incompetence

[@johnsweeney6072]

Time equals money. Money equals greed

[@mbothosiyah696]

Most people ignore natural forces, like gravity. This phenomenon is a attracting, downward force. There's a relationship between mass and gravity. - Gravity is the attractive pull between two objects that have mass. The strength of gravity is directly proportional to the amount of mass of each object. In other words, the larger the objects, the greater the gravitational attraction between them.

[@harryclarencealexander9161]

Yes...and the longer the zol, the more shit you talk.

[@mbothosiyah696]

I need to smoke, please wait. @@harryclarencealexander9161

[@martinawrensch6527]

❤

[@user-qu6ec8oy2t]

Its ANC!

[@TheodoreAndor]

Not before 1994 i can promise you

[@luckyngcobo6073]

The main things, greedy and selfish. The most of people who were on site are undocumented foreigners.

[@Daimlerxy_]

How does politics get into this?🤦🏻‍♂️

[@rowannandlall5060]

Lol but the DA led mayor approved these plans.

[@rowannandlall5060]

You can also look at the names of the lead engineers and project managers. Perhaps do this before you make comments like this.

[@emajange380]

This disaster is littered with white western cape "professionals" fyi

[@user-ix4mq9fe6j]

Poor workmanship and Materials

[@G.DD3SS]

Sabotage? Construction mafia? WTF?

[@arendsearendse8847]

Cheap labour costs lives. Extremely responsible.

[@janrdoh]

let's hope this is not the start of chinese type "tofu dreg" building methods.

[@salalamaallie7315]

They don't use artisans to build the buildings anymore this happens when they used cheap labour

[@edwinnetto6248]

Bad workmanship! Bad supervisors!

[@user-fg9ow9tv3d]

The question is realy was the risk really identified? Was the geotechnical study done to determine the profile of the geology and together with that the hydrological study. Environmental impact assessment conducted or not or at least a Basic Environmentlal impact assessment by a registered Environmental Impact Practitioner. Was there an environmental management plan in place and was it managed on a daily basis, Was the SHE officials SACPCMP certified or nor? The Overall EMP shoul;d stipulate emergency response in such an event and how to deal with it. Most probably from my experience risk assessments on construction sites are done in the office and not at the workplace WHICH IS SIMPLY WRONG!!!!! SHE file was it a life file meaning updated daily or as per frequency stipuled by legislation. A lot of foreigners on the site what hapenned to the principle of sourcing employment from the local communities. Some questions to be answered Condolences to the families and relatives that were affected by this.

[@nielwilliams4687]

ANC and the building Mafia.

[@altahancock6916]

Greedy people at the top don't care about normal humans, afterall is us ♟ that makes the Kings🤴 filthy rich!!

[@ericlategan3563]

I very much doubt a "design flaw"... the prof should know better to even make such a comment if he is not familiar with the design drawings. Councils takes months to approve building plans with all their bureaucratic red tape with the result that the lost time in revenue and profits are under tremendous pressure to complete a development of this nature in a shorter time span. There are many factors that could play-in on a sudden collapse.

[@lukealadeen7836]

Taking months to approve should mean that the designs are being thoroughly examined?

[@ericlategan3563]

@@lukealadeen7836 examining building plans are just a formal process in terms of SANS10400 regulations. PX's do not check, nor qualify a rational design, neither the material specified or the construction methodology. Constructing the building is a completely different exercice and the municipality (building inspectors) bear no responsibility. If you have no knowledge of a municipal approval system then rather refrain from making a simplistic comment.

[@ruthcarter1360]

Construction Mafia...bad workmanship and substandard quality materials... Sea sand instead of proper concrete

[@user-vl1mq7ww5n]

Sabotage!!

[@TheodoreAndor]

Cheap and unqualified people used. Normal real builders use Strength of Material science etc. Municipality took short cuts. Where are the real Builders?????

[@rianaduraan4053]

It is not the Municipality that took short cuts, please do your homework.

[@lukealadeen7836]

I heard it's a white company who did the design and building work

[@sherwinaugustus74]

Liatel developers and neotrend. Both white companies yes Carel Steenkamp and Co.

[@user-mq3ib1zq6g]

​@@rianaduraan4053I am sure you still get municipal building inspectors

[@powertechnical]

Municipal building inspectors might know about building regulations for houses. Big construction projects requires registered engineers hired by construction companies to make sure it is all safe and they have to be on-site all of the time.

[@janhenderson6774]

BEE!!!

[@user-si5zw7br5o]

Cut to the chaste! What has a BBBEE contractor ever built that exemplifies safety, quality and reliability to name just a few. Black's can only build a mud hut and tin shack without structural consequences. They have to be supervised all the time.

[@nosisantsele4987]

Cheap foreign labor and Cheap imported materials continue using these people

[@architecturemyspace299]

It was a white company , from an unregistered company lol BEEE

[@varsitystudents5276]

Its a white contractor, approved by the White DA government, hiring undocumented nationals for cheap labour Where do black South African and BEE get involved here

[@user-js5fe5kt4j]

​@@architecturemyspace299 who told u it was unregistered

[@architecturemyspace299]

@@user-js5fe5kt4j CIBD and NHBRC called and told me

[@deonvanrensburg5512]

Typical South Africa since 1994

[@suebasler1917]

The properly qualified people in the building industry need to used, ie - Architects and NOT Architectural Techicians or Draftsmen; Engineers and not Engineering Technicians!!!

[@comancheflyer4903]

A professional engineering technologist, registered with ECSA, is just as qualified in his/her specific field of competency as a professional engineer. Sometimes even better.

[@powertechnical]

And you are certainly not properly qualified to make comments about something you know nothing about.

[@bjornhoffmann6008]

Again a civil engineer. Gosh these news agencies are thick. You need commentary from a Structural Engineer!! Not civils

[@Tony-Red]

Structural engineering is a subdiscipline of civil engineering. A professor from one of the country's leading schools of civil engineering, who has focused extensively on concrete structures is an appropriate expert to interview. In addition, there isn't anything a structural engineer is going to tell you at this point that isn't as speculative as any other expert that's been interviewed, because the investigation is ongoing. Seems like if anyone's thick here, it's you, Hoffitjie.

[@emajange380]

Dumb ass civil engineering is broad and structural engineering falls under it. I was trained as a civil engineer myself and specialized in structural engineering

[@bjornhoffmann6008]

@@Tony-Red Tony coming out swinging. Well done, but my point stands. Was the Civil Engineer not just speculating, isn't everyone just speculating. But when I hear speculation, I'd prefer a professional in the precise field speaking to me rather than a broad generalist in the grander field of Engineering. It's a structure. Something structural failed, hence the collapse. So do us a favour and tell your journalist buddies to do us the courtesy of not insulting our intelligence. And if this academic actually has the background, then journalists need to do a better job introducing him in a way that captures his credentials like you just did

[@powertechnical]

Yet here you are, typing words that does not contribute anything to the speculation.

[@kevindevilliers3572]

A truck parking on one of the slabs/levels ????? Why and how would a truck get up there. Silly comment. These interviews should be done with practising Structural Eng's.

[@manivsewparsad2511]

This building had a basement level…

[@kevindevilliers3572]

@manivsewparsad2511 Yes I know, but this certainly doesn't effect the structure at all. A truck parking in the basement would be on the surface bed, and have no influence on load bearing higher up. Common sense.

[@powertechnical]

The point he made is that an uneven load can cause concrete to fail especially if the concrete is not dry enough or the concrete from a poor standard. He can only speculate and the structural engineer will also speculate. Only someone who is investigating the cause will be able to tell what went wrong.

[@anthonyschimper7585]

BUT WATCH THE ANC BLAME APARTHEID 🤣

[@arlenespencer3861]

😂🤣Truth there 😂

[@MoeketsiMoseme]

DA managed municipality, white owned company then us black people are blamed again but I don't blame you guys we blacks have glorified you especially so called educated blacks what a shame

[@karmathemis4111]

Construction mafia and illicit cigarette trade

[@ivarschei2104]

Hope it's not another ANC sponsored CADRE contractor who is a Mafia buddy. Like SODI in the Free State....