The Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, has undertaken to implement all recommendations in the final report of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) into a building that collapsed in George, Western Cape, in 2024.

The current preliminary report suggests that several procedures were not followed, a breach of the Housing Consumers Protection Act Measures Act, 1998 (Act No. 95 of 1998) and the recently signed Consumer Protection Act 25 of 2004.

NHBRC is a regulatory body established to protect the interests of housing consumers and to regulate the home-building industry in South Africa. Its primary functions include ensuring that home builders are registered and adhere to prescribed building standards and ethical practices and conducting inspections during various stages of construction to ensure compliance with national building regulations and technical standards.

“Upon its finalisation, should it happen that there are procedural flaws and compromise of NHBRC building standards, we will not hesitate to refer its recommendations to the law enforcement authorities for investigation and possible criminal charges”, said Minister Simelane.

She underscored that if any crime was committed including her officials at NHBRC, she would not hesitate to act.

The Minister is aware that the George building collapse is of public interest. Accordingly, she will take the nation into her confidence once the final report has been concluded. For now, she appealed for the nation’s patience as the process is at an advanced stage.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Human Settlements will not conduct further media engagements on the matter while a final report is being prepared.

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements, Govan Mbeki House 240, Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria