INNER-CITY EXPLOSION
Second Johannesburg gas blast — five admitted to hospital after Braamfontein maintenance accident
Johannesburg Mayor Thapelo Gwamanda has reassured the public that gas released into the atmosphere after an explosion at the intersection of Bertha and De Korte streets in Braamfontein on Tuesday afternoon ‘poses no risk to health or life’. Five people were admitted to hospital after the explosion.
Just one month after a devastating gas explosion tore through Lilian Ngoyi Street in the heart of Johannesburg, leaving one person dead and at least 48 injured, and mere days after a fire that claimed the lives of 77 individuals in Marshalltown, there has been a gas explosion in Braamfontein in the inner city.
The neighbourhood is a vital link between the bustling Newtown area, connected by the Nelson Mandela Bridge, and the city centre. The incident occurred at the intersection of Bertha and De Korte streets.
According to Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, the Joburg MMC for public safety, preliminary information suggests that the explosion occurred during planned maintenance work on a 350mm steel pipe, which is suspected to have leaked.
Fire broke out #Braamfontein Cnr De Korte and Bertha , while the Egoli employees where working on an 350mm steel pipe that had a suspected leak. They were doing a sleeping procees to prevent the gas from leaking. This is an ongoing preventive maintanance by the @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/BgZkfElrkO
— Cmsr Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, PhD (@MTshwaku) September 5, 2023
The gas pipes in question are owned by Egoli Gas, a natural gas reticulation company based in Johannesburg. The affected pipes have since been closed.
Egoli Gas issued a statement confirming the incident, describing it as an “isolated fire” within one of their gas pipelines. The statement assured that the gas pipeline had been promptly isolated and the fire brought under control within 15 minutes.
The City of Johannesburg said there had been no fatalities or injuries. However, Nana Radebe, the spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, said five people were injured and admitted to hospital. The incident caused an Egoli Gas truck to catch fire, which spread to a nearby building.
Johannesburg’s executive mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, said, “Following the Bree Street incident, the city has placed pressure on Egoli and other service providers to test and maintain their systems to prevent future accidents and minimise the risk of leaks and explosions. Sadly, this explosion occurred during the course of such maintenance. All necessary protocols will now be put in place to monitor the scene, investigate the incident and make the area safe.
“Residents in the area are advised that they may experience a strong gas scent and must not be concerned as the gas is being released into the atmosphere and poses no risk to health and life.
“We must, however also decry a growing tendency where people converge around a scene of disaster taking pictures and videos as opposed to evacuating and moving away from such scenes. The Boksburg explosion must be a lesson that scenes of disaster must be cleared immediately by all.”
Read more in Daily Maverick: Six months after Boksburg gas tanker explosion, families of 41 victims left with unanswered questions
This is a developing story. DM
Johannesburg is now a ticking time bomb it seems. And although the emergency services from the beginning said 5 people were injured and taken to hospital, mayor K Gwananda with Dr M Tshwaku EFF MMC for Puplic safety standing behind him, holding an eye on his appointee, and F Brink municipal secretary stated that there had been no injuries. Think they are starting to panic now and think denying will make things better. It sounds as though the inner city and Braamfontein , and the old neglected heart of Johannesburg should be closed down, not only the neglected invaded buildings. All under ANC=EFF leadership. Denise Smit
Just more hot air by the ineptocracy?
Infrastructure collapse can be laid at the door of racist BEE policies and mismanagement /fraud by the ANC hierarchy. Until the right people for the job, no matter their skin colour are involved and the ANC are toppled by a non racial political party then nothing will change!
Meanwhile, we have an “Executive Mayor” that nobody voted for from a Mickey Mouse party that nobody knows and fewer care for. Democracy indeed.