Tremor collapses Jwaneng building
Lebogang Baingapi | Wednesday April 5, 2017 09:17
The Government workers who had come to work early Tuesday morning were stopped in their tracks by the debris strewn all over the place and cars with dented bodies.
Consequently, it took the cajoling, begging and even threats, for the civil servants to file into the building, though gingerly. Earlier, following an earthquake that sent aftershocks around the country, multitudes of customers had joined the officers who remained outside the structure, still reeling from shock at the sight of the collapsed building.
Most of the customers had come to write their driving theory test at the Department Transport and Safety office that was in the building.
On Monday evening, the shock shook the building, which partially collapsed and left two Government vehicles damaged. On the morrow, the deputy district commissioner, Lesang Kgomoetsile called on all staff to order and suspended services for at least an hour pending inspection by the engineers.
Afterwards, he had a hard time convincing the already frightened civil servants to occupy the offices and assume their positions. Some, especially those who work on the second and third floors, were already showing signs of discomfort and feared for any danger that might occur. They later dragged their feet with their eyes fixed on one of the holes where bricks fell off the building. As for the damaged Government vehicles, their drivers were overheard murmuring and blaming the district management for failing to provide a shade where the cars are parked. Apparently, shading is only provided for private vehicles of senior officers while Government vehicles are left in the lurch. Kgomoetsile confirmed that he received a call from security officers alleging that the building had collapsed and damaged the two vehicles. He said they called the Departments of Fire and Buildings to inspect the building that evening. “It is evident that bricks fell directly from the top floor and broke the cars. The building has cracks outside and on the tiles inside and with the report we got from the experts we are confident that the building is safe to work in. We will just assume that it was responding to the shaking due to its structure,” he explained.
Kgomoetsile further explained that the building was safe and intact and only needs patching. He, however, noted that the 15-year-old building was supposed to be inspected after every 10 years though it never happened. He said the latest inspection reveals that structurally the building was sound. Furthermore, blasting at Jwaneng Mine has no impact on the building.
“We are confident that the private engineers who were engaged have submitted a substantive report. The building is safe and business will continue as usual.
We will, however, continue to inform the civil servants and customers about any new developments on the matter,” Kgomoetsile said.