Illegal mining cause of Boksburg gas leak: Ngodwana
Ekurhuleni Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana says authorities suspect the deadly Boksburg gas leak was caused by illegal mining in the area.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that the incident has claimed the lives of at least 17 people.
Three children were among the victims on Wednesday evening, including a 1-year-old.
Among those admitted in hospital, four are reportedly critical and 11 in serious but stable condition.
Speaking to the SABC on Thursday morning, Ngodwana confirmed the gas leak was caused by illegal mining.
“It was not a gas explosion, it was a gas leakage where the zama zamas were operating. There was a shack there that has got some equipment that zama zamas used to clean up what they are mining so they were operating in the shack where there was the gas leak".
“This affected a lot of people leaving eight males, five females and three children dead, the youngest being a 1-year-old. We will wait for more information from the police and forensic pathologists as they were working all night,” added Ngodwana.
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