M1/Grayston Drive inquiry to start Thursday

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Pretoria - The next sitting of the M1/Grayston Drive pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge collapse inquiry is expected to start on Thursday with testimony from construction firm Murray & Roberts.

The upcoming sitting of the inquiry is expected to continue for seven successive days until 15 July.

The Section 32 Inquiry was set up by the Department of Labour after the collapse of the temporary bridge structure at the M1 Grayston Drive pedestrian bridge.

The collapse of the bridge structure to link Sandton and Alexandra led to the death of two people and injury to 19 others. The inquiry, in terms of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), will investigate instances of negligence.

The commission's mandate will focus on the responsibility of the principal constructor, in terms of the construction regulations; the responsibility of the client, and the responsibility of the agent on behalf of the client, in terms of the same regulations, supplier of the materials and design(er).

The M1/Grayston Drive pedestrian and cyclist structural bridge collapse inquiry is presided over by Lennie Samuel.

Some of the interested role players/witnesses that are expected to testify during the inquiry include engineers, construction firm Murray & Roberts, the City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Development Agency, Royal HaskoningDHV, Formscaff, Engineering Council of South Africa and the National Union of Mineworkers. – SAnews.gov.za