The driver of the gas tanker that exploded in Boskburg walked away free. He was arrested on the night of the incident, 24 December, while in hospital receiving medical attention for minor injuries. Political parties gathered outside were shocked to learn that he was released from jail.

HE WAS RELEASED LAST NIGHT

The driver drove under a low lying bridge that caused friction and leakage on the tanker.The gas tanker slowly caught flames and six  fire fighters were attending to it when it exploded.Despite SAPS arresting and charging the 32 year old  with multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligent driving, negligent causing of an explosion resulting in death and malicious damage to property, he is now a free man. He was due to appear at the Boksburg Magistrates Court when the National Prosecuting Authority revealed that he was released on Tuesday.

JUSTICE DENIED

The National Prosecuting Authority says the driver in the Boksburg gas truck explosion has been released due to a lack of evidence. Therefore he did not appear in court. Sibusiso Valashiya the regional chairperson of NEHAWU said he was not happy with how the government was handling this whole matter. He said the driver being released from police custody with no charges was a denial of justice to those affected. He said the families of nine health care workers need the driver to take accountability for his actions. "We have people fighting for their lives and hope that the get better soon. I hope and pray that we will not hear and any further reports of more lives being lost. Some of the employees have suffered emotional trauma and continuing to work in that hospital where they lost colleagues can't be easy on them." He said the hospital should be temporarily closed and those who are fir enough to work be stationed to other hospitals around.
"This is to allow the process of rehabilitation to take place and help employees to deal with their trauma. It's soon for them to come back to work and going there forces them to relive that unfateful moment."