The George municipality says about 2 500 t of building rubble have been removed from the site of the collapsed building in the town, which has so far claimed the lives of 33 people.

About 500 t of rubble remain on site, as rescuers near day ten of rescue and recovery efforts.

The municipality points out that the site had been divided into six sections for the purposes of the rescue operation. Two of the six sections have not yet been fully cleared down to the basement level and this work continues.

Of the 81 people on site when the building collapsed on the afternoon of May 6, 19 are still unaccounted for, 12 are in hospital and 33 have died.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the site later today, along with other Ministers and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.