Grayston bridge inquiry: Engineer declines to answer key questions

CRACKED: Engineers examine the debris of the bridge which collapsed on the M1 highway at the Grayston off-ramp, in Sandton. Two people were killed and 21 injured. Picture: Chris Collingridge

CRACKED: Engineers examine the debris of the bridge which collapsed on the M1 highway at the Grayston off-ramp, in Sandton. Two people were killed and 21 injured. Picture: Chris Collingridge

Published Jul 4, 2018

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CAPE TOWN - A contract manager and engineer involved in the construction of the Grayston Drive pedestrian and cyclist bridge on Wednesday repeatedly declined to answer questions at the inquiry into its collapse in 2015, which killed two people.

Hein Pretorius was on leave on October 14, 2015 when the bridge caved in, and also injured 19 people.

He told the commission he was not in a position to know what caused the collapse.  

He declined to answer a question relating to the load the structure could carry, saying he risked incriminating himself and equally would not say who was responsible for inspections on site. 

In reply to a question from the presiding officer in the inquiry Phumudzo Maphaha, Pistorius said he was aware that the project required a mentor to be appointed for candidate engineer Oliver Aadnesgaard, but conceded that he did not know who the mentor was.

He said he was nonetheless satisfied that Aadnesgaard met the requirements of a competent person.

Pretorius added that he regularly received health and safety reports from the construction site.

The drawings for the collapsed structure were supplied by FormScaff and Pistorius said his discussions with the company mainly revolved around the ease with which the temporary bridge could be erected and dissembled.

He would not take a question as to why construction proceeded without loadings assessments.

Aadnesgaard had similarly declined to answer questions put to him.

The inquiry resumed its work this week for the first time since late last year.

It was set up by the department of labour and is investigating contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 which led to the fatal collapse of the structure.

The inquiry is due to continue on Thursday.

African News Agency (ANA)

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