Wrap Text
Market update on the collapse of the pedestrian bridge construction support structure
MURRAY & ROBERTS HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number 1948/029826/06
JSE Share Code: MUR
ADR Code: MURZY
ISIN: ZAE000073441
(“Murray & Roberts”, “Group” or “the Company”)
MARKET UPDATE ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Shareholders are referred to the SENS announcement of 15th October 2015, following the
collapse of the pedestrian bridge construction support structure on Wednesday afternoon, 14
October 2015 at approximately 15h30, on the M1 highway next to the Grayston Drive bridge
in Sandton, Johannesburg (“the incident”). The incident regrettably claimed two lives and
injured several others and we would like to reiterate our heartfelt condolences to the
bereaved and offer our sincere sympathy to those injured.
GROUP STRUCTURE
Murray & Roberts has delivered infrastructure projects throughout South and Southern Africa
for more than 110 years, and is recognised as a leading international engineering and
construction group.
The Group is structured into four business platforms namely:
- Oil & Gas;
- Underground Mining;
- Power & Water; and
- Infrastructure & Building.
The first two business platforms are predominantly internationally focused, while the last two
are predominantly sub-Saharan focused.
The collapse of the pedestrian bridge construction support structure occurred at a project
which was being carried out in the Infrastructure & Building business platform.
The Group continues to implement its growth strategy, i.e. the New Strategic Future, which
is focused on growth in the international natural resources markets, where it is able to
leverage its current capabilities.
UPDATE ON THE INCIDENT
Following the incident, the board of directors of Murray & Roberts (”the Board”) and its
executive management prioritised the provision of appropriate medical care and support to
those injured.
The Board recognises that this is a tragic event with severe reputational consequences for
the Company.
The purpose of this announcement is to provide shareholders, stakeholders and other
interested parties with an update on the current state of affairs:
CONDITION OF THE INJURED
- Immediately on becoming aware of the incident at around 15:40 on 14 October 2015,
the Company established a crisis management team (“CMT”) consisting of a number
of directors, including the Chairman of the Board, Group Chief Executive and
Financial Director, as well as the Group Investor and Media Executive
- The Company mobilised one of its service providers, ICAS (Independent Counselling
and Advisory Services), specialists in the provision of behavioural risk management
and employee wellbeing/care programmes. ICAS was tasked with establishing
accurate information on the condition and medical treatment all the injured were
receiving
- The CMT recognised the need for provision of appropriate medical intervention for
the injured and to this end, the Company undertook (on a no-liability basis) to cover
the immediate medical expenses of the injured, and contribute towards the funeral
expenses of the deceased
- Those injured who could not receive immediate treatment at provincial hospitals, due
to capacity constraints, were transferred to private hospitals
- ICAS has followed up on the injured, including those who have been discharged from
hospitals
- Through ICAS, the Company offered and administered counselling to the injured,
family members of the injured, the bereaved as well as uninjured witnesses who
were affected by the incident
- Our Group Chief Executive, Henry Laas, personally visited a number of the injured
on the evening of the incident to enquire after their wellbeing and to express his
sympathies. Henry Laas and other executives conducted further hospital visits to the
injured from Thursday, 15th October 2015 and continues to do so on a regular basis
- Arrangements have been made for the provision of transport services for family
members to visit their injured relatives at each of the hospitals where the injured were
being treated
- Our Group Chief Executive met with family members of both the deceased. Further
contact regarding support for the funeral was initiated
UPDATE ON THE INVESTIGATION
- On becoming aware of the incident at around 15:40 on 14 October 2015, the Chief
Executive Officer of our Infrastructure & Building business platform, Jerome
Govender, as well as the Group Health Safety and Environment (“HSE”) Director,
Thokozani Mdluli, immediately travelled to the site
- A Loss Adjuster, arranged by our insurance broker Marsh & McLennan, was
deployed to the site, as well as an external forensic engineer who has been
appointed to represent the Company in the investigations. It is always important to
gather as much evidence as possible from the scene of the incident before any
clearing operations commence
- Approval was received from the Department of Labour at about midnight on
Wednesday, 14th October 2015 for clearing operations to commence
- At 05h30 on Thursday, 15th October 2015, our Group Chief Executive met with
representatives of the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development
Agency at the Sandton Fire Station to coordinate clearing efforts that were underway
- The Company formalised its internal investigation process under the Group HSE
Director. The Company’s investigation team comprises an external consultant (who is
an expert in tap-root investigation), an external forensic engineer, the in-house legal
representative, legal counsel from Webber Wentzel, the Chief Executive Officer of
the Infrastructure & Building business platform, as well as the Managing Director of
Murray & Roberts Infrastructure
- At 14h00 on Thursday, 15th October 2015, the Company had an initial meeting with
Marsh & McLennan and underwriters (SHA) to ensure its actions did not compromise
the covers in place, and that the relevant policies will respond as expected in the
circumstances
- The M1 highway was re-opened at approximately 15h00 on Thursday, 15th October
2015
- At 08h00 on Friday, 16th October 2015, the Group HSE Director and his team started
the formal internal investigation by taking statements from site management and
others. The Company also commissioned an independent engineering review of the
pedestrian bridge construction support structure
ONGOING SITUATION
At this stage, we do not have any information on the cause or causes of the incident. We
also do not want to speculate on possible causes. The investigation process must run its
course to establish what led to this tragic incident. To achieve this, we are working closely
with the various external investigations.
Our immediate focus remains on providing continued support to the injured and the families
of the deceased, and to the investigation process.
Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available.
Bedfordview
20 October 2015
Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
Date: 20/10/2015 04:40:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
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indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
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