South Africa

South Africa: 17 Dead After Gas Leak

JUL 6 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

At least 17 people, including three children, have died after inhaling toxic gas caused by a leak at an informal settlement in South Africa’s Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. Investigations are still ongoing, though the leak has been linked to illegal gold mining.
BBC News
Authorities say the leak happened late Wednesday night at Boksburg’s Angelo settlement. In addition to the children who died — ages one, six, and fifteen — ten people were hospitalized, including a two-month-old infant, two four-year-olds, and a nine-year-old.
The Associated Press
Emergency services spokesman William Ntladi said the leak came from cylinders used by miners — referred to as “zama zamas” — to process gold. Local media published a photograph of multiple gas cylinders in a shack where the miners worked.
Guardian
Bodies remained covered as search teams worked their way through a 100-meter radius of the poverty-stricken scene, searching for the dead or injured. Police also began tearing down the gas-processing shack and removed all gas cylinders.
Yahoo! News
Gauteng Province Premier Panyaza Lesufi called the scene “heartbreaking,” as locals described their loved ones dying while trying to flee the toxic area. South African Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa has demanded investigators determine the cause of the tragedy and avoid similar disasters in the future.
VOA
Illegal mining has plagued South Africa for many years as so-called “zama zamas” — Zulu for individuals who try their luck — risk their lives to make money in a country with rampant poverty, unemployment, and crime. A May explosion killed 31 illegal miners in Welkom, and bodies still remain trapped underground.
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

South African officials know what a scourge illegal mining is on the nation, and Ramaphosa is determined to get to the bottom of the gas leak that killed 17 at the Boksburg settlement as well as put a stop to dangerous, illegal mining. South Africa is doing all it can to rescue people and help victims in their families — the nation is deeply committed to ending this unlawful practice.

IOL

Narrative B

While South African officials may talk a big game about ending illegal mining, their statements typically only constitute dangerous attacks on migrant workers coming to South Africa. In addition to inciting violence against migrants working in the nation, South African officials profiteer from illegal mining by collecting gold left at crime scenes. South African politicians are complicit in the scheme to exploit gold mines and are using illegal miners as their pawns.