Lawyers for deadly Boksburg tanker explosion file R65million lawsuit
Nearly two years after a devastating explosion in Boksburg, a R65 million claim has been filed for 67 victims seeking justice for a tragedy that altered lives forever.
Nearly two years after the deadly Boksburg tanker explosion, justice is now being sought in court. LHL Attorneys Inc. has filed a R65 million claim on behalf of 67 victims of the December 24 2022, tragedy, a catastrophic event that shook the local community and left a permanent mark on the families affected.
The devastating blast claimed 41 lives, injured more than 100 people, and destroyed homes and businesses in the area.
The tragedy occurred when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, unable to clear a low railway bridge, became wedged and exploded in a fireball near Tambo Memorial Hospital. The force of the explosion partially destroyed the bridge and sent shockwaves through the surrounding residential area, leaving a scene of destruction and grief.
LHL Attorneys Inc. has launched legal proceedings in the Johannesburg High Court on behalf of the victims, seeking financial compensation for the devastating loss, injuries, and emotional trauma they suffered. The firm is targeting three parties it alleges were negligent, and it has vowed to restore dignity to those whose lives were forever changed by the disaster.
'LHL Attorneys has cited three defendants in the legal proceedings: Infinite Fleet Transport (Pty) Ltd, the company that owns the tanker; Innovative Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd, the labour broker responsible for the driver; and the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality,' the firm said.
According to the lawsuit, Infinite Fleet Transport failed to implement proper monitoring systems that could have guided the tanker driver along a safer alternative route, preventing the vehicle from entering the residential area and attempting to pass under a low railway bridge.
Innovative Staffing Solutions is accused of neglecting its duty to ensure the driver was properly trained to transport hazardous materials.
The City of Ekurhuleni Municipality is implicated for its alleged failure to provide adequate road signage and poor emergency response, including not evacuating residents before the fire and explosion.
Gabrielle Berkowitz of LHL Attorneys described the explosion as a preventable catastrophe.
'This was not just an accident – it was a preventable catastrophe rooted in corporate and municipal negligence, striking at the core of a tight-knit South African community. Our mission is to obtain justice for the victims, to ensure that those responsible are held to account and to prevent future similar tragedies.'
The law firm also explained that the claims have been carefully structured into four categories: Loss of Support, Injury, Property Damage, and Grief and Emotional Distress. This approach allows the court to consider the full scope of harm suffered by the victims, from financial loss to emotional suffering.
To ensure that justice is accessible to all victims, LHL Attorneys said it will be handling the case on a contingency basis, also known as a 'no win, no fee' arrangement. This means that the victims will not be required to pay legal fees upfront, allowing them to pursue justice regardless of their financial situation.
''The sheriff just dropped the papers, and our legal team is studying them,'' confirmed Zweli Dlamini, the spokesperson for Ekurhuleni.
The Star
masabata.mkwnanzi@inl.co.za
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