More people succumb to injuries following fatal explosion:
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) would like to update the public that the death toll
from the unfortunate and disastrous gas truck explosion in Boksburg has now risen to 18
people.
On Saturday, 24 December 10 people were killed when the truck transporting gas got stuck
under a bridge near Tambo Memorial Hospital and started leaking resulting in a massive
explosion that caused extensive damage to private and public infrastructure within an
estimated 500 metres from the scene. Sadly eight more people who had sustained severe
burns and injuries have since demised as of Monday, 26 December 2022.
Of the 18 deceased people 9 are Tambo Memorial Hospital staff (consisting of 1 driver, 8
nurses)
Families can now be able to identify their deceased loved ones:
The Department would like to advice affected families that they can now be able to visit the
mortuary to identify their loved ones at the Germiston Forensic Pathology Services situated
at 10 Long Street, Germiston, (behind SAPS Germiston). They can also contact make contact
on 082 306 2887 which is a 24 hour line. The Forensic Pathology Services operate from 08:00
to 15:00 Monday to Friday excluding on public holiday and on weekends. However, given the
need to assist families the offices will be opened on Tuesday, 27 December 2022.
It is advisable for families to note that the person who is designated to conduct the
identification of the deceased loved one needs to bring the following:
• Original ID document of the family member coming to identify the deceased.
• No drivers’ licence are accepted in line with the Identification Act
• Original Identification Document of the deceased person is needed, or an abridged
birth certificate where an ID is not available.
• If the deceased person is a child without an ID, a birth certificate is acceptable.
• An Abridged birth certificate for adults can be obtained from Home Affairs offices.
• If the deceased is a foreign national, a passport, an asylum seeker certificate, or a
letter from the country of origin Embassy confirming who the deceased is and to
whom the mortal remains should be handed over to.
Counselling services to families coming to identify their loved ones will be offered on site
through registered counsellors.
Thirty-seven (37) people including 24 patients (who were situated in the hospital’s Accident
and Emergency Department) and 13 staff members who were outside the Wards and the
hospital parking lot at the time of the explosion sustained severe burns and were diverted to
neighbouring hospitals including Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Far East Rand Regional Hospital,
Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic
Hospital, Thelle Mogoerane Hospital, Pholosong Hospital and LenMed.
Tambo Memorial Hospital remains on divert
The facility is still not taking new patients and we requests that the patients bear with us as
visits are still temporarily suspended.
Of the 321 patients that were in the facility prior to the explosion, 42 patients were discharged
on Sunday. As of Monday, 26 December 2022 in the morning the number of patients admitted
in the facility is 279.
Families who have loved ones at Tambo Memorial Hospital can call the facility on 011 898
8000 to check the status of their loved ones.
Members of the public who might want to report missing persons in relation to the Boksburg
explosion can contact the Gauteng Provincial Government Service Delivery Hotline number
on 0800 228 8227.
Visit to families by the provincial government
Arrangements are afoot for the Gauteng Provincial Government to visit affected families. The
social workers from the Gauteng Department of Social Development together with the City of
Ekurhuleni will be providing counselling services.
The Gauteng Provincial Government will keep the public informed on further developments
around the issue.
