Bosksburg Explosion: Truck driver arrested and charged

Gauteng Police have arrested a fuel tanker driver for homicide after 15 people lost their lives and several others were injured in Boksburg on Saturday. According to Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the tanker driver had been traced and arrested by the police at a private hospital, where he was receiving medical attention for minor injuries on Saturday evening. “The 32-year-old suspect has been charged with multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligently causing an explosion resulting in death [Act 26 of 1956, Section 27 (2)], and malicious damage to property,” Muridili said. Investigations conducted revealed that the fuel tanker got stuck in an attempt to drive through a low bridge in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, which then resulted in an explosion. The fuel tanker was reportedly travelling from Richard’s Bay to Botswana. The death toll currently stands at 15, and the driver’s case will be heard at the Boksburg Magistrates Court on December 28, 2022.

Truck driver arrested, full investigations commenced

According to The Citizen, Innovative Staffing Solutions (ISS) confirmed that a full investigation into the circumstances of the fuel tanker explosion in Boksburg had commenced, as one of its drivers had been driving the vehicle. In a statement by ISS, its internal investigation already established that the driver was “highly experienced, with a professional driving qualification in working at heights and seven years of experience in transporting hazardous materials.” The company also stated that the driver recently passed a medical test granting him authorization to drive. “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as to those who were injured,” said ISS Managing Director Arnoux Maré. “Our hearts truly go out to all victims of the explosion, and we would like to offer our complete reassurance that we are performing an urgent internal and independent investigation to determine the true cause of the accident.” “The health and safety of our employees, clients, and the public are our top priorities, and we are taking this incident extremely seriously.”