Retired teacher who lost 3 kids in Boksburg blast wants compensation for loss

JOHANNESBURG - A retired teacher who lost three of her adult children in the Boksburg explosion in 2022 said she wants compensation for her loss.

This is after families who lost loved ones and survivors of the explosion filed a multi-million-rand lawsuit against those that they believe should be held accountable, including the trucking company, the labour broker of the driver, and the City of Ekurhuleni.

ALSO READ:

- Boksburg blast: Some victims’ families hope lawsuit ensures incident won’t happen again

- Families of Boksburg blast victims accuse municipality of negligence

It has been almost three years since a truck carrying 6,000 litres of liquefied petroleum gas exploded after getting stuck under a low-lying bridge, killing 41 people and injuring many others.

After working for over three decades as a teacher, Rose Mashaba cashed out her pension and bought a house in Boksburg.

After her retirement, Mashaba was being supported by her children, whom she put through school and university.

On 24 December 2022, Mashaba lost three of them to the explosion.

“I will be happy if I can get something too because even their graves, I didn’t have money to buy them tombstones. I can use that money for that, I can fix the house and, obviously, the trust can pay for the education of their children.”

Mashaba’s home was also damaged during the explosion.

While she has replaced her windows, the white walls and ceiling are still stained by the smoke from that day.

BATTLING TO KEEP UP WITH MEDICAL BILLS

Some survivors from the Boksburg explosion said they are battling to keep up with the rising medical bills to treat the scars from the tragedy.

A local resident, Winnie Chirimuta, was knocked unconscious by the aftershock from the explosion.

She said her health hasn’t fully recovered since.

“My chest, it’s not the way I used to breathe like before. That gas damaged us inside and the trauma, it’s not going. That emotional trauma is still killing us. Even if we see a truck, a tanker, you fear.”

A healthcare worker at an old age nursing home, Chirimuta now walks with a limp due to an injury on her right leg.

Her husband has permanent burnt scars on his back, which they have spent a lot of money treating.