Today marks exactly a year since unsuspecting people lost their lives when a petrol tanker truck exploded in Boksburg in the east of Johannesburg. Due to the explosion, 41 people died and 12 of them were nurses at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The blast tore the roof off the Radiology Unit, and various other sections of Tambo Memorial Hospital and many bystanders were injured and died including children as young as nine years old, while it destroyed houses and several cars. Rosetta Briets a mother who lost all five of her children in the explosion said she felt like she was left alone in the world. Her husband died in 2021 and she explained that the incident seemed like a nightmare to her. Gerrie (10), Sebastian, (14), Adrian (14), Jamel (16) and 25-year-old Jes were found by their mom lying on the grass already dead after the explosion. Rosetta said her eldest daughter was reserved and the younger ones that came after her were more outspoken and outgoing. "I am heartbroken, and I am taking it day by day. I'm living it day by day just to get through everything," she said.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko unveiled the Wall of Remembrance in November to honour the health workers who tragically lost their lives during the explosion. Nkomo-Ralehoko said the unveiling of the Wall of Remembrance serves as a tribute to the selfless public servants who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. "This memorial wall represents our commitment to remember our colleagues, not just today, but for the generations to come. It will help the families find closure and healing to know that they matter to us. It is a heartfelt tribute to our fallen colleagues, symboliwing not only our shared grief but also our collective hope and healing. It is a sacred space where we can meet to remember ,reflect, and find solace in the knowledge that we share in this journey of grief and remembrance. The courage and unity you have all shown during this incredibly challenging time have been a source of inspiration, shining a light of hope through one of the darkest chapters in our hospital's history," she said.
