Probe launched into bridge collapse

Construction group Murray and Roberts (M&R) and three other companies could find themselves being prosecuted this time next year for the pedestrian bridge that collapsed onto the M1 highway in Johannesburg recently.

The collapse killed two people and injured 19 others. Ten people remain in hospital, three still in critical condition. The Department of Labour (DoL) says it will set up a Section 32 Inquiry under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

It will ask if all parties fulfilled their responsibilities and, if negligent, criminal charges may be laid. On the day of the incident (October 14) M&R’s share price dropped sharply by 7.32% to R11.15 and, although the share has recovered slightly since then, it could be in for some tough times ahead if any evidence of negligence on its part comes to light.

M&R will be involved in the inquiry as the principal contractor, with the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency as the clients and engineering firm Royal HaskoningDHV as the agent. Scaffolding manufacturer Form-scaff will appear as the supplier of material for the project.

The department’s chief inspector Tibor Szana said the provisional time frame for the inquiry was about six months and the officer presiding over the inquiry would be announced at a later stage. M&R’s share price was down 0.99% on Wednesday, closing at R11.01.