Author: Gomolemo Mothomogolo
Ndumiso and Neo Mashaba lived life to the fullest and loved their children dearly, that is until their young lives were tragically cut short when a gas tanker exploded under a bridge in Boksburg on Christmas Eve killing 26 people and injuring many others. Those who know the 25-year-old Ndumiso and his 22-year-old sweetheart Neo said the couple were inseparable and have left behind two children aged 3 and six months. A relative of the couple Nelisiwe Masango described Neo as a tough and strong young mother who adored her two children. “To be a wife at the age of…
The driver went to assist his colleague whose car was stuck near the deadly gas truck when both their cars were blown off and unwittingly ended up saving her life and that of the truck driver before it exploded. The truck exploded near the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital claiming at the latest count the lives of 26 people and injuring many others in Boksburg on Christmas Eve. The explosion also caused extensive damages to the OR Tambo Hospital, set fire to a few households and also destroyed rail and other infrastructure. Charges against the 32-year-old truck driver have since been…
A distraught father, Derek Williams says his 28-year-old daughter sustained third degree burns when the flames from the truck carrying gas exploded near the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg on Saturday morning. At least 18 people have died following the deadly explosion that has left parts of the hospital damaged, destroyed railway infrastructure and some homes while scores of other injured people are still in hospital. Williams, who lives in a house near to the blast said the explosion broke windows and set fire to a lapa and also charred his work bakkie. “My daughter has third degree burns…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to rid “society of the divisions and the hurts of our past” following an attack on two black boys at a ‘whites only’ swimming pool at a resort in the Free State. In a video circulating on social media, the two boys were attacked while in a ‘whites only’ swimming pool at a resort on Christmas by a the group of adult white men. In the video one of the men has got his hand around the neck of the boy while others end up jumping in the water with the other victim amid…
A 32-year-old driver will today appear at the Boksburg Magistrate Court in connection with the deadly gas explosion near the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital on Christmas Eve that has claimed the lives of 18 people including health workers. The man was driving a gas tanker under a low-lying bridge when the valve snapped, leaking the gas which caught fire and exploded killing scores of people while other passers-by suffered severe burns. The yet to be named man is facing multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligence causing an explosion resulting in death [Act 26 of 1956, Section 27 (2)] and malicious…
The South African Medical Association Trade Union (SAMATU) has slammed the Department of Health’s decision to cut budgets and freeze vacancies, calling it a failure to provide adequate health services to communities. Samatu called out health authorities after interns affiliated to the trade union were not taken in because of frozen vacancies. Last month, the Department of Health said it had successfully completed new intakes for all eligible medical interns and community service applicants on Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) for the next annual intake scheduled to commence in January 2023. The Department said 2 402 internship and 7…
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has called on law enforcement authorities to clamp down on cable theft and to catch the criminals who are behind this scourge. Nkomo-Ralehoko said this after a copper pipe supplying oxygen to various sections of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital was cut off threatening the lives of many patients some of whom were in high care. She said she wanted the criminals caught and charged with attempted murder for endangering the lives of scores of patients. The Gauteng Department of Health confirmed in a statement this week that a 10 meter copper pipe…
The City of Tshwane’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Banda’s urgent application challenging the legality of his dismissal has been postponed to Thursday at the North Gauteng High Court. Judge Mashudu Munzhelele said he would rather set another date to deal with the matter properly and the court agreed that the matter will be heard on Thursday. Banda argued that his dismissal was unlawful because the municipality had extended hiscontract until March next year. The City of Tshwane fired Banda for allegedly submitting non-compliant annual financialstatements to the Auditor General. The City of Tshwane received an unqualified audit after it was…
South Africans still have confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa and the uncertainty over the ANC’s Top 7 results did cause some anxiety in the country, this is the view of some of the Eastern Cape Delegates who are attending the ANC’s 55th National Elective and Policy Conference in Nasrec. Ramaphosa defeated former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and was re-elected as ANC President this morning. Siphiwo Ngqondi from the Eastern Cape noted that the uncertainty of Ramaphosa’s re-election caused anxiety among South Africans who were waiting in anticipation and concerned that someone other than Ramaphosa could emerge as the new leader…
The ANC in Limpopo has reiterated its stand to back President Cyril Ramaphosa for the second term as ANC President. This follows calls by Limpopo deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani to provincial delegates to back former Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize for the position of president. Radzilani was addressing delegates last night ahead of voting to elect the party’s top seven. ANC Limpopo spokesperson, Machaka Mathole said delegates can lobby for their preferred candidates and Radzilani like any other leader who is a delegate at the ANC conference, has the right to lobby for any candidate of her choice. “I Want…