Five people were left injured when in another gas explosion on the corner of Bertha and De Korte streets in Braamfontein in the Johannesburg CBD. It’s reported that Egoli gas technicians were busy working on the infrastructure when the explosion occurred, and their truck caught fire.

EXPLOSION AND FIRE

Johannesburg Emergency Services Spokesperson, Nana Radebe-Kgiba confirmed that the fire that was caused by the explosion has been put out. "Earlier this afternoon, Firefighters responded to a report of a truck on fire in Braamfontein. On arrival, they found an Egoli gas truck including part of a building had caught alight while technicians were doing maintenance at corner Bertha and De Korte streets. Firefighters immediately went to work to extinguish this blaze," she said. Radebe-Kgiba added that five people were treated on scene and only two were taken to hospital.

ANOTHER GAS EXPLOSION

This is the second explosion in the Joburg CBD in less than two months. On the 20th of July a gas explosion claimed one life and left 48 people injured whilst interrupting the taxi transport system that South Africa’s most marginalised communities depend on. Joburg City Manager Floyd Brink said the cause of the first explosion was a gas called methane. "The type of gas that fuelled the explosion is methane, which is lighter than air and travelled up along the services tunnel, from an unknown source to the crest of the tunnel near Von Brandis Street," he said. Brink also said fixing the damage is estimated at R178 million.

DEADLY FIRE IN THE JOBURG CITY CENTRE

A week ago, a fire gutted a five-storey building in the Johannesburg city centre, killing 77 people, including 12 children. More than 60 people were also rushed to different hospitals with injuries. The Usindiso building accommodated more than 400 people who are now housed at temporary shelters in Bez Valley, Hillbrow, and Jeppestown. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi recently announced a commission of enquiry to investigate the cause behind the fire.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF THESE INCIDENTS?

Ongoing investigations into the reasons behind the neglect, underdevelopment and exclusion in the affected area, have to date eluded safety managers and those in positions of power responsible for maintaining reliable infrastructure in one of the city’s busiest areas.