Another explosion rocks Johannesburg

Just a day after a destructive explosion rocked Johannesburg, emergency services have responded to another blast in Braam Fischerville, Soweto.

City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the explosion happened on Thursday afternoon.

“The explosion resulted from dynamite connected to a vehicle battery. Three people were affected by the blast.

“One person has died from injuries sustained from the explosion. One person was rushed to hospital and the other sustained minor injuries. The incident was reported to Joburg EMS at 2:24pm,” she said.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the blast reported in Braam Fischerville is unrelated to the one in the Joburg CBD on Wednesday.

Lesufi was briefing the media on the initial findings following an explosion that happened in the Inner City of Johannesburg.

“Upon deep investigations by the police, we established that it was a private house.”

Joburg CBD explosion

Meanwhile the City of Joburg said it was awaiting a report from authorities on the explosion on Bree Street in Central Johannesburg that claimed one life and injured 48 others.

Thirty-seven vehicles, most of them taxis, were also damaged during the explosion which destroyed sections of Bree and Rissik streets.

While Egoli Gas said it is unlikely the explosion was caused by a gas pipeline or leak, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the cause of the blast is yet to be determined.

Injured

Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said none of patients injured in the Joburg explosion in the CBD have been affected by gas.

Nkomo-Ralehoko briefed the media alongside trauma surgeon and chairman of the Disaster Centre, Professor Maeyane Moeng on Thursday at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg following a blast in Bree Street that has already claimed one life.

“With the patients that I have seen now, I didn’t see any symptoms of gas.”

Nkomo-Ralehoko said patients were admitted to hospitals across Joburg following the explosion.

She visited five at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said the province’s hospitals are ready should there be a second explosion.

“We pray this doesn’t happen,” said the MEC.