Investigation into Neo Victoria Apartment Building Collapse Reveals Approval Process Details

An in-depth investigation into the collapse of the Neo Victoria apartment building in George has shed light on the detailed approval process followed by the George Municipality. The structural engineer and architect appointed by Neotrend, the developer of the building, were found to be adequately qualified for the project, which was valued at an estimated R39,544 million.

The development plans, approved in July 2023, included a basement parking area, ground floor parking, and four floors of residential apartments. The municipality confirmed that the structural engineer, Atholl Mitchell, and the architect, Deon van der Westhuizen Architects, were both deemed competent for the project based on the required qualifications and experience.

During construction, the building had progressed up to the concrete roof, with various disciplines working on service installations. The municipality noted that the developer had no previous safety violations within the George municipal area, and compliance reports were not required to be submitted to the municipality.

The approval process began with a rezoning application submitted by Jan Vrolijk in September 2020, which was revised and resubmitted in November 2020. The application sought to change the zoning of the property from Business Zone IV to General Residential Zone IV for the building of a five-storey apartment block. The application was approved in September 2021, following a public participation process with no objections received.

After the rezoning approval, a site development plan was submitted in April 2022 and approved in May 2022. The building plan application was then approved in July 2023 after meeting all requirements set by the building control officer, Clinton Petersen.

The investigation and approval details provide insight into the extensive process that was followed before the tragic collapse of the Neo Victoria building, raising questions about the oversight and safety measures in place during the construction.