Gas tanker tragedy: ‘I stayed at my wife’s side in hospital, praying for her’
Twelve healthcare workers died in the explosion.
Trevor Modisakeng, the husband of Nthabiseng Modisakeng, a nurse who died on December 28 after sustaining injuries in the gas tanker truck explosion on Christmas Eve, is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he will never see his wife again.
When interviewed by the Boksburg Advertiser at the healing service held by the Gauteng Department of Health on January 10, he said that what had happened to them as a family was devastating and that for him, it has been unbearable because he lost his wife of 12 years.
“I loved my wife. What’s affecting me a lot is that she died while we are both relatively young, and she left two young children with me.
“Our boy Neo is one year and eight months old, and our daughter, Lesedi, is 10. I’m learning to accept what has happened to my wife because I buried her on January 6. The support I get from family and friends keeps me going,” he said.
He said he feels blessed despite going through a difficult time.
“I have a lot of support, and even my fellow congregants have played an instrumental role in uplifting my spirit. They come to our place to pray and encourage us.
“Regarding the explosion, I don’t know what is happening around it. I don’t even know which company owned the truck that caused the explosion because I haven’t had a chance to watch the news or even follow the case. I was always beside my wife in the hospital, praying for her to get better during the early days of the explosion.
“She was admitted on the day of the explosion and passed on December 28, but even after my wife died, I didn’t follow the case. I was more focused on giving my wife a proper burial.
“What happened in Boksburg was a tragedy. We all feel bad about it, but I don’t want to think about it too much because I don’t want to harbour any feelings of hatred, anger, or bitterness. I believe that what happens to the driver is not for me to decide because that is not my battle to fight.
“From now on, I just want to focus on being there for my family, especially my two children.”
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