Pretoria Gas Explosion Claims 2 Lives – Former Employee Accused of Sparking Fire

A tragic Pretoria gas explosion claimed two lives and left several others injured. The man accused of setting off the gas tank blaze, Moloko Calvin Ramogwadi (34), appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of two counts of murder and three of attempted murder.

Ramogwadi had been previously employed by a company tasked with constructing additional classrooms at Zodwa Special School. On August 22, the company reportedly fired him. He returned to the school the following day, allegedly claiming he was collecting his tools. During this visit, he reportedly opened gas tanks, leading to a devastating fire while other workers were still on-site.

Two workers tragically died from the explosion. Three others were injured and rushed to the hospital. Authorities promptly arrested Ramogwadi on the same day and remanded him in custody. The case has been postponed to Friday to allow for further investigations and a possible bail application.

Also read: Arson Suspect Arrested: 2 Dead 4 Injured at Atteridgeville School

The explosion occurred around 10:00. Tshwane emergency services responded to the scene. Charles Mabaso, a spokesperson for the emergency services, explained that the blast happened while a contractor was repairing two container classrooms. Firefighters encountered a challenging situation as the container classroom collapsed and caught fire. Despite their efforts, burning rubble trapped two individuals.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed shock and sorrow at the incident. He extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. He emphasised that a psycho-social unit would be on-site to provide trauma support and counselling to the school community. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers involved in construction and maintenance work, underscoring the need for strict safety measures and protocol adherence to prevent such devastating incidents.

Source: 2 killed in Pretoria gas explosion: Fired staffer accused of starting fire

Also read:

Court Hears Alleged Pretoria School Arsonist Was Previously Dismissed

Picture: Facebook / The Gauteng Department of Education

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