Murray and Roberts deny wind claims

Most of the criticsms came in the form of social media. The bridge collapse also came as the City of Johannesburg was promoting the Eco-mobility World Festival, which encourages motorists to park their cars, cycle, walk and use public transport to get around Sandton.

Amongst the critics were @jfkunene who said the company must just prepare a formal apology instead of fishing for excuses.

#MurrayandRoberts must just prepare a formal apology instead of fishing for excuses. The latter will have a negative long term effect

— Mthandeni (@jfkunene) October 15, 2015

The latter will have a negative long term effect. Meanwhile @Matlala_S asked, “Has anyone labelled Murray and Roberts “incompetent” yet? If it was a black firm, we would have heard how ANC is ruining the country by now.

Has anyone labelled #murrayandroberts "incompetent" yet? If it was a black firm, we would have heard how ANC is ruining the country by now.

— Matlala Setlhalogile (@Matlala_S) October 14, 2015

Meanwhile @BigstanDJ said the company should pay millions for the lives lost and those who were critically injured from the that bridge incident.

#MurrayAndRoberts should pay millions for the lives lost and those who were critically injured from the that bridge incident

— Stanley Thema (@stan___sa) October 15, 2015

Murray and Roberts originally blamed wind for the collapsed bridge. Furthermore @MafzaM3 stated, “The worst part the whole structure fall. It shows the bridge would have been a disaster.”

https://twitter.com/MafzaM3/status/654564007983075328

@boohley said, “First it was the wind… Now they wanna use the truck driver as a scapegoat… No we aren’t dumb.’

First it was the wind… Now they wanna use the truck driver as a scapegoat… No we aren't dumb #MurrayAndRoberts

— Buhle (@boohley) October 15, 2015

However Eduard Jardim Murray, spokesperson for the company said, “Murray and Roberts was aware of various statements attributed to the company which speculate over the cause, or causes, of the incident.”

“The company can confirm that it has made no such claims, and that the cause, or causes, have not been identified and that all possible causes are the subject of formal investigation. Our immediate priorities are to make contact with the families of those affected and to ensure they are being taken care of and to clear the scene so that motorists in Johannesburg are able to commute.”

He said senior directors of the company including its Group CEO Henry Lass, have been on site assisting with rescue and clearing operations since the incident occurred yesterday.

Jardim added that the company was working closely with the City of Joburg and all emergency services and early estimates indicate that the M1 will be cleared today.

He added that the company was contacting and assisting the families of those affected.

Murray and Roberts has launched a formal investigation into the cause or causes for the collapse of the bridge support structure over the M1 highway.

Jardim said this is in addition to other investigations that have been initiated by the department of labour, the City of Johannesburg, the police, and other parties, with which company is closely cooperating. Jardim said, “The investigations will include analysis and research conducted by technical, engineering, legal and forensic specialists. At this point, we are unable to comment on how long the investigations will take and when they will conclude and we appeal to the public to await the outcome. We are as concerned as everyone to understand what happened, and commit to sharing information as soon as the investigation is complete.”

He also cautioned against speculations as the causes for this tragic event need to be thoroughly and properly investigated. Jardim said their immediate priority was to continue reaching out to the families of those affected and to ensure they were being taken care of and to clear the scene so that motorists in Johannesburg are able to commute using the M1 highway.

Watch a video of the aftermath of the bridge collapse:

Read Dust to dust: Five of SA’s major structural collapses