Highway explosion: in the aftermath

POLOKWANE – While much has been said about the four police officials who lost their lives last week in an explosion on the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane, but barely a mention has been made of the fifth person who lost his life that day.

Ian Nel (45) was trapped in the vehicle transporting vegetables when it rear-ended a truck transporting blasting cartridges. Nel and four police officials who were trying to rescue him from the wreck died when there was a massive explosion shortly afterwards.

Nel’s son, Riaan, said his father was a hard-working man who loved his work and loved driving trucks. There will be an empty space in the lives of the people he knew and whose lives he touched, Riaan said.

“My father was the kind of person who would walk into a room full of strangers and at the end of the day walk out having made friends of every person there.

“He was a man with a sense of humour who saw the best and brightest side of every situation and he could make you feel better about anything. We will miss him so much.”

Riaan said the family was grateful to the police officers who paid the highest price trying to save his father.

“To their families: we are sorry for your loss. We can only thank you and let you know we are carrying the burden of loss with you,” he said.

The four police officers were Const Masethe Reuben Moloto, Monwabisi Lawrence Setlako, Mateane John Mahlokoane and WO Lesoka Joseph Mafane. Three other police officials were injured in the explosion. Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, who visited the scene in the aftermath described it as “terrible”: “Next to the road, grass and trees were flattened for hundreds of metres. The large crater in the middle of the road was evidence of the enormous blast that took the lives of our colleagues and the driver of the second truck. Shrapnel was scattered as far as four hundred metres from where the truck first stood.”

Bertha Mahlokoane, the mother of one of the fallen police officials, said her son, who was attached to the flying squad, had nothing but pride for working for his country, and dreamed of making a difference when he finished school.

She said the moment Mateane walked into a room you would feel safe; he was a protector and a guardian to the family, his friends and colleagues.

“I can still see him the day before he died as he stood in the doorway talking about family friends that he wanted to assist after the death of their child. He said, ‘I will speak to you tomorrow mom’, and that was the last time I spoke to my son.

She sympathised with the other families who lost loved ones. “We can just thank God for the wonderful children we were blessed with. They were a gift from God.”

A close colleague of Mateane, Const Martin Erasmus, said their sadness was indescribable: “An empty desk is all that remains of a very helpful, kind and law-loving officer”.

In a statement on behalf of the Zambian transport company, Rainbow, in whose truck the explosive material was being transported, Michael Felton said the company extended its sincere condolences to the families of the police officers who passed away. He said an internal investigation into the accident was underway.

Police minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement he was saddened by the loss of lives.

According to Otto, the type of blasting cartridges being transported were usually used in construction and in the mining industry, but specifics were not yet available. The manufacturing, storage, transport, sale, importing and exporting, of explosives are strictly controlled by the Explosives Act 15 of 2003.

Any vehicle carrying explosives should be clearly marked. Depending on the volumes, the vehicle should be escorted when travelling on a public road. The packaging of the explosives must also be clearly marked.

A permit is needed to transport explosive materials. The driver of the vehicle transporting explosives may not leave the vehicle unattended unless parked in a designated area.