As people were dropping dead after inhaling toxic gas three men put their lives on the line to save the victims of the gas leakage in Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg.

Speaking to ZiMoja, Tshepi Manaka said he had just knocked off work when he heard a strange whizzing sound. "I called my friend Sam Malaza and asked him what was happening, but he had no idea what was going on. Ten minutes later, he called me back to say I must rush to his place because people were dropping dead like flies," he said. Manaka said that Sam told him to wear a mask and carry a wet washing rag to cover his nose. "As I was walking towards the cylinder I came across six dead bodies. Before we got there five more people were lying lifelessly. When we got to the yard where the cylinders were, the gate was locked. Sam said I should go under as he lifted the fence. After that I helped him jump in, the whole time our faces were covered with wet face masks," he said. Manaka added that he found the gas cylinder still wheezing and leaking from a shack allegedly used by zama zamas. "I managed to get close and after looking directly at it, I sealed it twice. We jumped the fence and rushed next door. There was a woman and three children in a shack. We thought they were still alive but unfortunately, they were dead." He said they rushed to the next shack where they found three more people who died. "We called the police from 8 but they only came around 11. When the police finally came they told us a businessman had come to report a business robbery. They said the man told them that he lost 5 gas cylinders and two of them had a deadly gas. Come to think of it this all adds up," said Manaka. He said he came across 16 dead bodies and one of them was his cousin. "My cousin left to check on his friend but he didn't get far. He inhaled the gas and died instantly. All those who died bled through their mouths and their stomachs were swollen. I blame zama zamas for their carelessness and until the police are serious there's no winning this war."

Adriano Makukule said he was sitting in his shack when he suddenly inhaled something choking. "I went out to check what was happening and I came across dead bodies. I was shocked but I had to think fast. One by one I managed to save six people before I collapsed from inhaling the gas. However, I had covered my face with a wet shirt and I'm guessing that's why I wasn't affected that much. I was taken to hospital but discharged the same day," Makukule said his conscience didn't allow him to only save himself. "I'm a parent so it pained me to see children and women dying so suddenly. In situations like this, you take risks and allow God to spare you. Two people died in my arms while I was carrying them to safety. It's sad that so many people died for something that they had nothing to gain from," he said.