SAPS
Western Cape police said a team of experienced detectives has been assigned to probe the deaths of 33 people in the George building collapse disaster.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile appointed the team, with the announcement coming after the disaster site on Victoria Street was handed to the SAPS on Friday to conduct the ongoing investigation.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said the “search, rescue and recovery operation was completed on-site on Friday.”
“Collaboration with other departments ensured that autopsies were conducted on 33 bodies, of which 29 were positively identified by their loved ones at this stage.
“The post-mortem reports as well as reports from other departments form part of the ongoing police probe,” Pojie said.
He said the disaster site has been “secured” in anticipation of the pending investigation by the Department of Employment and Labour.
Pojie said Western Cape police management commended the multidisciplinary team for their efforts during the operation and the SAPS members' role, particularly the K9 units and the SAPS search and rescue personnel involved in the disaster.
