The memorial service for the 12 healthcare workers from the Boksburg explosion at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg.
(Photo by Gallo Images/OJ Koloti)
- Moving tributes flowed during the memorial service for the 12 Tambo Memorial Hospital employees who died in the Boksburg explosion.
- The workers described their relationships with the healthcare workers who died.
- The health department called for accountability on the part of the truck driver and his employer.
One of the 12 nurses who died in the gas tank explosion in Boksburg was supposed to be off duty at the time.
However, Kgothatso Magopane, 41, asked to work overtime.
His brother, Kgatliso Magopane, 38, had just left Tambo Memorial Hospital after working his shift when the explosion occurred.
The brothers worked as nurses at the hospital.
Twelve workers lost their lives on December 24, 2022, when the hospital was damaged by the explosion.
They were honored during a memorial service at the Boksburg Civic Center on Tuesday.
Remembering Magopane and her close friend and colleague, Audrey Shezi, Patricia Rammonye said the pair loved to play pranks.
Rammonye said the absence of the two nurses was felt in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the hospital where they worked.
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“They were playful. They were also dedicated to their work. Magopane had volunteered to be on duty when she was fatally wounded. She was supposed to be on leave.”
“Magopane came and served, not knowing it was his last day. Unfortunately, it was not his day. It was his day to leave us.
“If we know when we will leave this world, we will want a place to hide. Magopane and Shezi were friends. They decorated our living room in preparation for our Christmas lunch. We did not anticipate that they would not be with us on Christmas Day. We have lost two soldiers on our shift .
rammonye said:
When we buried Magopane, we were confused, with many unanswered questions. Shezi’s funeral then brought us closure. Her funeral healed us. Her death has brought unity to our hospital. Maybe it was a change to look towards the Lord.
Nurse Lebogang Dywili was at home when the tragedy occurred.
He said he survived the fire that devastated parts of his previous workplace, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, in April 2021.
“It’s tragic. What’s more troubling is what happens next. Who will take care of their families? Who is responsible? How do we heal? How do we move forward?” Dywili asked.
“I am from Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital. I have experienced two fires in my career. The first was at Charlotte Maxeke. Staff morale is low at both hospitals.
“What happened at Tambo Memorial is emotional. It could have been me. I don’t know how to feel. I am paralyzed. I was at home when the tragedy occurred,” Dywili added.
Thokozile Xaba, 54, had only worked at Tambo Memorial Hospital for 18 months before he died prematurely.
He died on January 1, 2023 at Milpark Hospital.
His brother, Sibusiso Xaba, said his sister suffered severe burns.
Conrad Jantjies during the memorial service for the 12 health workers from the Boksburg explosion at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg.
“My sister was a very good person. She was a nurse by vocation. Even before taking up the profession, she helped many people at home in KwaZulu-Natal.
“She was a person who loved God. She was friendly. She served at Entabeni Hospital before coming to Gauteng.
“We want the truth. We want to know what happened and what caused the explosion. We heard many stories, including that the truck driver followed the protocol, others said that there were no markings on the bridge, and some said that the bridge was too low. We want to know whose truck that is.
“I want to know about the cause of the deaths. We want answers. I want to know if the truck was being monitored. Was the driver on the correct route? How often did they monitor the movements of his truck? Did he observe the height restrictions? bridge? Did you read the signs on the bridge? asked Sibusiso.
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He added that they wanted to know what action the company would take against the driver.
“I’ve never been a trucker, but I know there are height restrictions. I don’t know if he was aware of such height restrictions. The driver and the company owe us answers.”
Responsibility
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has called on the company to take responsibility for the deaths.
“When you own a truck, you know the height of your truck and the load it is carrying. Once the load reaches a certain height, there are specific routes for us.
“The movement of the truck should have been monitored. If they had, they would have alerted the driver that he was taking the wrong route. They would have seen that the bridge was not designed for a truck.
“There was some imprudence committed. Someone must take responsibility. One way or another, the driver will be held accountable.
“Even though people say he warned onlookers not to go near the truck because there was going to be an explosion, to me, it shouldn’t end there. Something has to be done. Someone has to be held accountable,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said. .
The company comment will be added upon receipt.
