Investigation into cause of Joburg CBD explosion crucial to preventing further injury and damage

19 July 2023

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mzi Khumalo, to launch an urgent investigation into the cause of the explosion in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) earlier this evening.

This explosion is life-threatening for the tens of thousands of workers, job seekers, and residents of the CBD.

The cause of today’s explosion must be determined as a matter of urgency to prevent further incidents like this from occurring again.

Furthermore, this explosion occurred along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) route, which means that the structural integrity of the road must be determined before being used by the public and public transport vehicles.

The DA proposes that the government must consider moving people out of some buildings that are situated near the scene of the incident to ensure their safety.

The DA will be monitoring the progress of this investigation, and should it be delayed, we will be left with no option but to take the matter up privately. Our residents must work and live in a safe environment.

We urge the public not to go to the scene of the explosion until it has been declared safe.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and those who had their property damaged during this incident.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, Official Leader of the Opposition- Gauteng, 19 July 2023