“This could have been avoided,” Maile demands answers from Boksburg driver after horror explosion
The Gauteng MEC of Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, Lebogang Maile, is demanding answers following the deadly Boksburg explosion.
“It is scary,” said Maile.
Maile held an inspection of the Tambo Memorial Hospital, east of Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
At least 18 people died after a truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) got stuck under a bridge in Boksburg on Saturday, causing a leak and explosion.
It appears that the tanker was too high to go under the bridge.
Scores of people were injured, including 37 people at the health facility while the explosion unleashed widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
24 patients and 13 health professionals sustained injuries while 9 staff members have died.
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“We can only thank God for sparing most of the people’s lives,” Maile told journalists at the hospital.
He conveyed his condolences and asked South Africans to “continue to pray so that such a bad thing does not happen anytime in our lifetime.”
“I think this could have been avoided,” Maile continued.
The driver of the tanker is expected to make his first court appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The man, who was arrested on Christmas Day, has been charged with multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligent causing of an explosion resulting in death, and malicious damage to property.
“Hopefully he will be able to provide an explanation as to what happened - at least we deserve that as a nation and the families of the victims,” said Maile.