Suspected stolen toxic gas cylinders found hidden in veld
There are also claims that the owner of the stolen bottles was in the area looking for his missing bottles before the deadly gas leak.
A passer-by on July 17 alerted the police after he found two toxic gas cylinders abandoned in the veld near the mine dump next to Angelo informal settlement.
This came after at least 17 people were killed and more were hospitalised after inhaling toxic fumes following a gas leak in the informal settlement on July 5.
This publication understands that the police contacted Air Products asking for a specialist to assist with the removal of the feared dangerous cylinders.
The specialist reportedly arrived on the following day and took the filled cylinder for safekeeping, while the empty canister was taken to the police station.
According to the concerned resident, who asked to remain anonymous, he received information that about eight toxic gas bottles were stolen from a local company before the deadly leak in the area.
“I heard that, apart from the bottles found in the shacks after the incident, there were still more missing bottles. So I took it upon myself to look for the remaining ones because I’m concerned about people’s safety. I later managed to find the two near the mine dump,” said the resident.
It’s believed that a group of Zama Zamas intended to drain the toxic gas from the cylinders before they cut them open to make phendukas, a system used in their plants to refine gold.
There are also claims that the owner of the stolen bottles was in the area looking for his missing bottles before the deadly gas leak.
The Boksburg police spokesperson could not confirm whether someone reported a case of stolen gas cylinders and whether someone has been arrested or held responsible for the incident.
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