An infrastructure specialist from GenTECH Consulting, Lufuno Ratsiku, says the construction industry in South Africa is facing a corruption crisis.
The country has seen the recurrence of buildings collapsing, claiming dozens of lives.
Nine construction workers died last week Monday after a concrete slab collapsed at a construction site in Ormonde in Johannesburg.
Related video| Death toll in Ormonde building collapse rises to 9: Lufuno Ratsiku weighs in
The City of Johannesburg confirmed that the owners and developers bypassed procedures, exposing a “systemic disregard” for municipal by-laws.
Ratsiku says authorities must act harshly against those who do not comply.
“Beyond the lack of awareness, there’s just an element of mediocrity that the industry has been grappling with for a long time. And the reason why I say it’s mediocrity is that, remember, when contractors don’t comply, usually it’s in the name of cost savings. Think about not having a competent supervisor on site. Somebody saying, “I was going to pay this person R25 000, R30 000, let me pocket it back.” But at the expense of what? Human life,” says Ratsiku.
Related video| No form of approved plan for construction found at this stage:
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