Delays frustrate M1 bridge victims

05 May 2016 - 08:41 By NOMAHLUBI JORDAAN

The family of one of those killed when a pedestrian bridge over the M1 collapsed last year are frustrated with the slow progress of the inquiry after it was postponed for two months.Two people died and 19 were injured when the temporary pedestrian bridge over the M1 freeway north of Johannesburg collapsed near Sandton in October last year.The Department of Labour launched a formal inquiry into the collapse late last year but proceedings were postponed yesterday for the second time.Ayanda Myeni, whose younger brother Siyabonga died in the accident, said his family was in the dark."We do not know what is going on. No one has come to us to explain. We are just waiting." Myeni said his family had not been compensated for his brother's death.Spokesman for the Labour Department Mokgadi Pela said the commission had made progress in the inquiry, but it had received "extensive" reports only from Murray & Roberts and Form-Scaff.Other companies that were required to submit their reports by March 29 only did so on April 15."This posed challenges for us, in terms of having to go through those reports, apply our minds and make sure we are happy with them."The inquiry will sit from July 7-20."We want to get to the bottom of the matter. If there is any negligence, we will not hesitate to recommend prosecution," Pela said...

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