Boksburg Explosion: Former Gas Tanker Driver Says Lack of Experience May Have Played a Major Factor

• The man who previously used to drive the truck that exploded in Boksburg believes lack of experience was the issue
• Peter Mofokeng said if the 32-year-old driver had been more experienced, he would have seen that the bridge was low
• Meanwhile, the death toll from the explosion has risen to 26, with two people still missing and numerous injured

GAUTENG - The former driver of the truck that exploded in Boksburg commented on the tragic incident.

Peter Mofokeng was outside the court ahead of what would have been the 32-year-old driver’s first appearance. The charges against the driver were dropped and he did not appear, leaving many South Africans confused.

Speaking to TimesLIVE, Mofokeng said he drove that truck for a year before being replaced in September following a dispute. He said if the driver had been experienced, he would have seen that the bridge was low.

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Boksburg explosion: Case against truck driver dropped, leaving Mzansi divided

Mofokeng claimed that a controller should have stopped the driver from entering the area due to the low-lying bridge. He questioned the reason for the driver being in a residential area.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the explosion has risen to 26, with two people still missing, according to EWN. Nine healthcare workers from the Tambo Memorial Hospital were among those killed.

The Gauteng provincial government visited their families and offered to provide support and relief to those who lost loved ones. As part of the Social Relief Network, family members will be provided with food aid monthly.

Boksburg explosion: At least R18 million needed to repair Tambo Memorial Hospital, Mzansi not buying it

Briefly News reported that the estimated cost to fix the damage to the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg has raised red flags on social media.

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Boksburg explosion: At least R18 million needed to repair Tambo Memorial Hospital, Mzansi not buying it

According to initial estimates, parts of the hospital that were damaged during a truck explosion on Christmas Eve will cost about R18 million to repair. Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development Lebogang Maile visited the area and said an infrastructure assessment had been conducted.

Several wards, including the emergency unit and antenatal wards, had damage to their roofs, ceilings, windows and doors, News24 reported. Maile said the hospital structure did not take any damage.

Source: Briefly News