Boksburg tanker blast death toll rises to 26

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed the number to media on Wednesday while visiting the family of Kgothatso Magopane (41), an auxiliary nurse working at the nearby Tambo Memorial Hospital.

Magopane is one of nine staff members who died due to the blast.

“Police have now confirmed we are standing at 26. We have lost 26 people out of the tragedy, and you can see now it’s becoming difficult by day,” Lesufi said.

Magopane’s brother, Kgatlhiso, is a male nurse at the same facility and had just knocked off from the night shift, while his sister was about to start her day shift, when the accident occurred.

He said he left work just after 6am and there was no tanker under the bridge. Kgatlhiso said he was sleeping when he was startled by his mother banging on his door.

“She [the mother] said your sister has been burnt and asked me to drive. I got dressed and went straight back to the hospital. When I got there, I searched for her but couldn’t find her. When I checked my phone I noticed I had 36 missed because she [sister] had given them my number and my mom’s.”

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He said because he is an employee he was allowed into the clinic, where he found his sister who was still able to speak with him. She instructed him to get her belongings from her wrecked car, but when he got there, he realised the extent of the damage.

“I got to the car, but I couldn’t get her keys. Her bag was burnt, and her ID and shoes were just out there burned. The ambulance then took her to Alberton.”

Kgatlhiso said while he was attending to her sister’s car, he received a call that his mother who had accompanied her sister to the hospital has collapsed.  

He rushed to be by their side but was met with devastating news.

“When I got there my mother was better and stable, they then told us there was nothing they could do for my sister. They counseled us, I went back to move her car with my cousins and then went back to the hospital to by her side the whole night until she passed away.”

Magopane’s uncle has described the sight of her remains as unbearable, which has influenced the family to hasten funeral arrangements - also in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The 41-year-old leaves behind her two children, aged 19 and nine.