By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng Department of Health unveiled a wall of remembrance to honour the memory of the healthcare workers killed by the deadly Boksburg explosion.
More than 40 people were killed, and dozens of others injured, when a gas tanker became lodged under a low-lying bridge and subsequently exploded.
While the driver of the tanker was taken into custody soon after the incident, he was released shortly thereafter, and no one has since been charged or held to account for the tragedy.
Friends, family and colleagues of the 12 Tambo Memorial Hospital workers who were killed in the blast gathered in their memory – against the backdrop of heavy machinery working on the nearby bridge – where the tanker carrying LP gas became trapped.
Delivering the keynote address, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the wall should serve as a memory of their selfless commitment and contribution to healthcare.
“It stands as a physical embodiment of their memories, a place where we can come and remember and reflect. This wall is not just a structure of stone and names, it’s a symbol of the lives that touched us.”
The MEC described the tragedy as one of the darkest moments in the history of the department.
“Last year’s disaster cast a shadow over what should have been a festive season, turning our Christmas black as we paused to mourn and lay our loved ones to rest,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by the hospital’s nursing services manager Mavis Molekane: “Our beloved departed colleagues sacrificed so much of their lives and family time in serving the community. This wall of remembrance, as it evokes those emotions [of loss], it is also soothing.”
The unveiling took place against the backdrop of the cacophony of heavy machinery and tools working to repair the damaged bridge.