As the sound of drilling and heavy machinery at the site of the collapsed building in George continues to ring through the air and the death toll keeps rising, the family members of those still trapped under the rubble are starting to lose hope that their loved ones will still be pulled from the rubble alive.
By midday on Friday, Western Cape authorities confirmed that the death toll had risen to 12 and that 41 of the 81 workers who had been present at the site at the time of the accident were still unaccounted for.
Family members who are being housed near the accident described waiting to hear if their loved one would be the next person to be pulled from the rubble as “agonising.”
France James, whose wife Ireen is one of the 41 workers still unaccounted for said the situation becomes more unbearable with every day that goes by.
France James
He said Ireen had been working on the construction site as a cleaner for the past two months.
“On Monday I was at work when a friend phoned me to ask if I had heard what happened at the construction site.
“I haste to the scene. When I got there it became clear that my wife was under the rubble.”
Ever since then, he has spent his days praying that Ireen is one of the survivors and not among those who have to be identified at the mortuary.
When asked whether he still had hope that his wife would be found alive, James buried his head in his hands.
The James’ have a three-year-old child.
A woman who did not want to be named whose cousin is unaccounted for said: “I don’t know what to think anymore.
“I want to remain hopeful, but right now I just don’t know.”
Addressing the frustrations of family members on what they call the authorities’ inability to properly communicate with them, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said patients’ conditions are regularly communicated.
He said accurately identifying bodies retrieved from the site involves DNA testing, fingerprinting, and making use of photographs.
Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile confirmed that the SAPS forensic lab remains on standby for testing.
Western Cape Head of Disaster Medicine, Dr Wayne Smith said identifying the bodies retrieved from the site involves DNA testing, fingerprinting and using photographs.
Dr Wayne Smith
Ayanda Maxoto, a volunteer who has been assisting with the rescue mission told Algoa FM News that they had high hopes on Monday and Tuesday, as they could clearly hear voices shouting for help.
“These voices were last heard on Wednesday evening. From Thursday morning could not hear any more voices,” he said.
As the rescue mission continues unabated, Forensic Pathology Services vehicles are constantly seen moving onto the site.
