Residents of Delft, a community in South Africa, are calling on local authorities to take immediate action following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a woman.
The incident occurred when an oxygen tank from a nearby scrapyard exploded, striking the woman on the head. The community is now demanding that measures be put in place to prevent such accidents from happening again.
The incident took place on a Sunday afternoon around 5 pm. The woman, who remains unidentified, was walking past the scrapyard on the opposite side of Hindle Road when the freak accident occurred. Witnesses reported that the woman was alone at the time and it is still unclear where she was headed.
The impact of the explosion caused the woman to fall to the ground, resulting in severe injuries. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries after a prolonged period of pain. The force of the explosion also caused part of her face to be severely burned. The plastic bags she was carrying were found near her body, while the red oxygen cylinder was discovered a few meters away.
The incident has left the community in shock and mourning. Fundiswa Gona, a resident, expressed her concerns, stating, “We don’t understand how this scrapyard was allowed to operate in a residential area.
“Such establishments should be located far away from people.” Gona further explained that the scrapyard workers were cutting the oxygen tank when it slipped from their grasp and flew across the road, striking the unfortunate woman.
Residents are now calling on the authorities to intervene and take action. They want to see informal scrapyards banned in residential areas to prevent further tragedies like this from occurring. Charlene Williams, another resident, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “Something must be done. We can’t be running away from bullets and also have oxygen tanks flying around.”
Upon receiving the complaint, the Delft police promptly responded to the scene. Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that they found the body of the woman who had sustained a fatal injury from a flying object. The suspects responsible for the incident fled the scene and are currently at large.
Swartbooi also stated that the Delft police have registered an inquest to further investigate the incident. Meanwhile, the scrapyard in question has been closed since the accident. It remains unclear whether the closure is directly related to the woman’s death, but community members are relieved that action has been taken.
