Durban - Tongaat Mall engineer Andre Ballack said a “poorly constructed beam” that had been built by businessman Jay Singh’s construction company was to blame for the partial collapse of the mall.
Ballack was testifying before a Labour Department commission of inquiry on Thursday.
Two people died and several others were injured when the mall collapsed last November.
Earlier in the hearings it was established that a beam, referred to as beam 7, and two columns, called 243 and 319, were the three possible causes. However, engineers did not agree on what fell first.
The trigger of the collapse will be crucial in the inquiry’s findings to determine whether Ballack or contractor Gralio Precast was at fault.
On Thursday Ballack said beam 7 was the most “overloaded element at the time of the collapse”.
He said the beam was vulnerable because it lacked reinforcing steel, and had not been constructed according to his design.
“It was overloaded by 63%, and was most likely the one that failed first.”
He said it was also possible that column 319 could have failed first.
Tests have shown that concrete strength near the area of collapse was well below 30 megapascals, which was the strength required by Ballack’s design.
The hearing continues on Friday.
The Mercury