In a tragic set of circumstances, the day before Christmas, a truck transporting liquefied petroleum gas exploded after it became wedged beneath a bridge about 100m from the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Initial reports were that just 10 people were killed in the blast, with 26 others seriously injured, reports Daily Maverick. The number has since risen to 37 dead. Among the affected healthcare workers from the hospital were 11 nurses and one driver. Although it remains uncertain exactly how the healthcare workers came to be injured, most of them died while in medical care after the blast.
Koena Margaret Sekoba (59) obtained her nursing qualification at Lebone Nursing College. As an enrolled nurse, she worked at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital and later joined Tambo Memorial Hospital to work in the surgical ward. She died on 25 December 2022 and leaves behind her husband, three children, four grandchildren, three sisters and two brothers.
Matlakala Suzan Maxakaza (58) trained as an auxiliary nurse at a nursing home and completed her further training at Ann Latsky Nursing College. She was working at Tambo Memorial Hospital and died on 26 December 2022. She is survived by her two children, four sisters, two brothers and a grandson.
Moshemane Billyboy Mahoa (43) died on the day of the explosion. He had worked for 12 years as a driver at Tambo Memorial Hospital and was described as a dedicated employee. He is survived by his fiancé, two sons and a daughter, as well as his sister and three brothers.
Matjaji Peggy Maila (38) had been a midwife at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital where she worked from 2012 to 2016. She was working at Tambo Memorial Hospital and died on Boxing Day 2022. She is survived by her three children.
Kgothatso Magopane (41) qualified as a nurse at Gem Auxiliary Nursing School. She started working at Tambo Memorial Hospital on 15 August 2011, and died on Christmas Day. She is survived by her two sons.
Bore Evelyn Majatladi (55) qualified as a nurse at Lunghile Nursing School. She worked at Deansgate Retirement Village and Milpark Netcare before settling at Tambo Memorial Hospital. She died on the day of the blast. She was married and had five children and nine grandchildren.
Nompumelelo Audrey Shezi (39) graduated from Letjhabile Nursing School. From 2011 she worked in the neonatal ward at the Tambo Memorial Hospital. She died on Boxing Day. She is survived by her parents, her two older siblings, her only daughter, and her fiancé.
Khensani Lovely Thobela (43) studied at Tswelopele Nursing School to become an auxiliary nurse and furthered her studies as an enrolled nurse at Rhema School of Nursing. Her career started at Cosmos Old Age Home in Vandyk Park and Horizon Rehabilitation Clinic before she began working for Tambo Memorial in 2019. She died on 26 December 2022. She leaves her husband, a son and a granddaughter. As the sole breadwinner, she took care of her widowed mother and five sisters.
Nthabiseng Patricia Modisakeng (40) worked as an enrolled nurse at the Tambo Memorial Hospital. She died four days after the explosion, on 28 December 2022.
Simphiwokuhle Thandeka Mbatha (38) studied for her nursing certificate at Hlabisa Sub-Campus between 2004 and 2006, completing a bridging course at Candlelight Nursing School in 2016. She worked as an enrolled nurse at Tambo Memorial Hospital and died on 29 December 2022. She is survived by her family and a six-year-old daughter
Thokozile Ellen Xaba (55) attended Mangosuthu University of Technology and completed her nursing studies at the Lunghile Nursing School. At the time of the blast, she was working as an enrolled nurse at Tambo Memorial Hospital. She died on New Year’s Day.
Sibongile Winnie Hobyane (40) studied at Lungile Nursing School and completed her studies in 2014. After a stint elsewhere, she took up a permanent position at Tambo Memorial Hospital in 2019. She died on Christmas Day and survived by her husband, three children and four siblings — one brother and three sisters.
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