PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness over the Boksburg blast.
It happened near the Tambo Memorial Hospital on Saturday, 24 December, when a gas tanker exploded. The death toll has risen to 18. The blast also injured several other people and left behind extensive damage to surrounding infrastructure.
Ramaphosa said the government was taking all necessary steps to bring relief to those affected.
In a statement, he said the nation’s hearts were going out to everyone affected by this devastating incident.
“Such events take on greater sadness and tragedy when they occur at this time of year, when all of us pray for safety and look forward to the togetherness and comfort of time with family and friends.
“In this instance, the loss of life is rendered more intense because some of the victims were hospital patients, staff, children and firefighters.”
Ramaphosa made a call to show care and to avoid risks on the roads.
“As government, we are taking all necessary actions to bring relief to persons affected, and draw inspiration in our own efforts from the demonstrations of ubuntu we are seeing on the part of communities and community-based organisations,” he added.
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“While these interventions bring us hope and light in our darkest hour, we must always live by the resolve to prevent such catastrophe from taking place in the first place.”
The truck driver has since been arrested on suspicion of culpable homicide.
On Tuesday, Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development MEC Lebogang Maile visited the hospital to assess damages, stating them to over R18 million.
