GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd,
GOOD Councillor of George
The GOOD Party is deeply disappointed by the George Municipality’s decision to withdraw its nearly R10 million recovery claim against the owners of the property where 34 workers were killed in last year’s tragic building collapse.
This withdrawal sends the wrong message, that accountability is optional when it comes to powerful or well-connected property owners. While families of the victims continue to mourn and wait for justice, the municipality appears to have quietly stepped back from seeking recovery and responsibility for one of the worst construction disasters in South Africa’s recent history.
The people of George deserve transparency. They deserve to know why the municipality would drop a legitimate claim for recovery costs, particularly when the same institution is relentless in pursuing ordinary ratepayers over far smaller amounts. The message this decision sends is that some lives, and some liabilities, matter less than others.
GOOD calls on the municipality to explain this decision publicly and to recommit to pursuing justice for the victims and their families. Furthermore, we join the community in calling for the Victoria Street site not to be turned into profit-making apartments, but rather to be preserved as a memorial site, a lasting reminder of the lives lost and the urgent need for accountability in our building and governance systems.
Media Enquiries: media@forgood.org.za