Mourners at the funeral of four people who died in a terror explosion in Boksburg.
- The funeral of four Boksburg children who died in the Christmas Eve explosion was held on Thursday.
- Family, friends and community members attended, as well as various motorcycle clubs.
- The boys’ mother, Rosetta Brits, tried to comfort her three other children, who cried during the service.
The roar of a multi-chapter motorcade caravan heralded the start of the emotional funeral for four children who died on Christmas Eve after a gas tanker truck exploded in a Boksburg residential area.
Thrive Church held the service Thursday for Jamel Eales, 16, and Sebastiaan, 14, Adrian, 12, and Gerrie Brits, 10.
Her mother, Rosetta Brits, had buried her husband, Johannes, just five months before.
Her pain was palpable as she tried to comfort her three other children, who sobbed as family, friends and many other well-wishers delivered tributes and messages.
The funeral began with a motorcade led by the local Crusaders MC chapter. The horsemen also carried the coffins to the packed church.
The chapter’s pastor, Dannie Kieser, broke down when he said that the message he wanted to give the congregation was one of love.
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“Love each other like you’re never coming back.”
Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell was absent from private service but sent a proxy with a message from the city.
“[We want you to know] that we share your pain, and we are experiencing your pain, and your loss is our loss.”
The woman who occupied the place of the mayor broke down when reading the message that the tragedy reminded her “how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken from us.”
Rosetta’s loving tribute to her children was conveyed by a social worker assigned to the family.
“We all love you and we know you are in a better place.”
The aftermath of a gas explosion on a low bridge in Boksburg, where dozens of people died.
Frans Eales, Jamel’s father, thanked the community for their help and kindness and said he would miss his daughter and her siblings.
Like many other passersby, the brothers were drawn to the scene of the tanker accident after it caught fire.
It is understood that they were walking home when the tanker exploded.
Jamel’s boyfriend, Ian de Langa, 25, was with the brothers at the time.
Jamel, De Langa and Gerrie died instantly. Sebastiaan was airlifted to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, but died shortly after his arrival.
Adrian died later that night at Far East Hospital.
On Wednesday, Gauteng Prime Minister Panyaza Lesufi announced that the death toll had risen to 37 people. He said body parts were still being found.
Fifty victims were taken from the scene for treatment at various hospitals in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.
Among the dead are 12 health workers who were at the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital, which was in the area of the blast that day.
