South Africa’s Department of Labour is to carry out a formal inquiry into this month's fatal collapse of a pedestrian bridge that was under construction.

Department of Labour chief inspector Tibor Szana said that the formal investigation would take up to six months to complete and that the department was still gathering evidence on the incident. “We don’t work with rumours, we work with facts,” he said. He said that preparation to set-up the Commission of Inquiry are under way and the name of the presiding officer would be announced soon.

Szana added that at this stage the department was not apportioning any blame, but seeking to gather more facts. The outcome of the inquiry may result in prosecution based on evidence gathered.

The temporary support structure collapsed on 14 October, leaving two people dead and 19 injured (link opens in new tab). Three are still in critical condition in hospital.

Szana said the department has served a prohibition notice for work not to proceed on site until all safety and legislative requirements are complied with.

The Department of Labour said that parties involved in the project included the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency who were clients that appointed Royal HaskoningDHV as an agent. Murray & Roberts is the principal contractor and the supplier of material involved in the incident is Formscaff. Department of Labour acting director-general Aggy Moiloa said that Murray & Roberts had started work on 29 January this year.

He added that the formal investigation into the collapse will focus on aspects including the responsibility of the client (City of Johannesburg) in terms of construction regulations; responsibility of the principal constructor in terms of the construction regulations and as an employer; the responsibility of the agent on behalf of the client in terms of the same regulations; and the supplier of the materials and design.

The Department of Labour said that it was indicated that Murray & Roberts acquired materials and the design for the construction of the temporary bridge from Formscaff.  The construction of the temporary bridge was done by Murray & Roberts using design drawings by Formscaff. At the time of collapse it transpired that the installation was not yet completed; however traffic was already traversing under the structure.