Africa-Press – South-Africa. We owe it to the many lives that have been lost and the many people that have been injured, including the many affected families, to see to it that justice prevails.”
These were the words of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who announced on Thursday that the death toll from the Boksburg tanker explosion on Christmas Eve had climbed to 40.
Lesufi responded to families who lost loved ones in the explosion and announced that the Gauteng government would pursue legal action against the truck company involved in the blast.
It has been nearly three weeks since the liquid gas tanker exploded in Plantation on Christmas Eve. The vehicle exploded after it got stuck under a railway bridge near Tambo Memorial Hospital.
More than 50 people were injured. Thirty-five were hospital employees and eight were members of the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services. Six of them have been discharged while two remain in hospital.
Twelve healthcare workers were among the 40 people who died.
They include:
Koena Margaret Sekoba, 59, from Limpopo died on Christmas Day. She is survived by her husband, three children, four grandchildren and five siblings.
Matlakala Suzan Maxakaza, 58, grew up in Daveyton, Gauteng, and was one of 10 children. She died on Boxing Day and is survived by two children, six siblings and a grandson.
Moshemane Billyboy Mahoa, 43, was a driver for 12 years. He was described as a dedicated employee who lived a healthy lifestyle. He died on the day of the explosion. He is survived by his fiancée, their three children and four siblings.
Matjaji Peggy Maila, 38, was born and raised in Limpopo. The mother of three worked as a midwife at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital between 2012 and 2016, after which she moved to Tambo Memorial Hospital, where she died on Boxing Day.
Bore Evelyn Majatladi, 55, was a wife, mother of five and grandmother of nine. She was born and raised in Limpopo. Her career started at Deansgate Retirement Home and Milpark Netcare Hospital before joining TMH. She died on Christmas Eve.
Nompumelelo Audrey Shezi, 41, died on Boxing Day. She is survived by her daughter, Ntozonke, her parents and her fiancé. Shezi was born and raised in Mvutshini village in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. She graduated from Letjahabile Nursing School in 2005. She worked at Tambo Memorial Hospital for 11 years.
Khensani Lovely Thobela, 43, was a wife, mother of one, grandmother and sole breadwinner who also provided for her widowed mother and five siblings. She died on Boxing Day.
She was born and raised in Mpumalanga. She joined Tambo Memorial Hospital in 2019 after working at Vandyke Old Age Home and Horizon Rehabilitation Clinic.
Nthabiseng Patricia Modisakeng, 40, died on 28 December. She was an enrolled nurse at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Simphiwokuhle Thandeka Mbatha, 38, who was born in KwaZulu-Natal, was an enrolled nurse at Tambo Memorial Hospital. She died on 29 December. She is survived by her family and 6-year-old daughter.
Thokozile Ellen Xaba, 54, died on New Year’s Day. She was born and raised in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. She studied at Mangosuthu Technikon and completed her nursing studies at Lunghile College of Nursing.
Sibongile Winnie Hobyane, 40, was a wife, mother of three and had four siblings. She died on Christmas Day after three years at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The other victims include:
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