Cause of Joburg explosion still not clear

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Fri 21 Jul   [ozayr_patel_hello-1] The cause of the explosion in Johannesburg’s city centre ripped up Bree (Lilian Ngoyi) Street just after 5pm on Wednesday. Videos showed how taxis lifted into the air with ease. On Thursday afternoon, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said investigations were ongoing and tests were run by all parties. The major suspicion was that it was a gas leak but Egoli Gas have sent out several communications refuting that, saying their systems are intact. On Thursday morning, authorities were trying to dissuade people from walking in the street over the rubble to work. Some of the symptoms shown by people in hospital include headaches, chest pains and throat pains. Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda told SAfm that the underground is congested with electricity, water and gas pipes. The infrastructure is also vulnerable to asset strippers who are looking to make a living. There is the possibility that this caused damage to the infrastructure. There aren’t any mines in the area so the likelihood of it being caused by illegal miners are slim. Ozayr Patel | Climate & Environment Editor [@Ozayr8]( [bree_street_6410_DV (1)]( [Panyaza Lesufi: Cause of Joburg blast still unknown]( The department of labour is investigating eGoli Gas, Sasol and Telkom as well as water and sewer entities that had pipelines underground [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [VladimirPutin4]( [No Vlad, too bad, so sad: Putin pulls out of Brics summit]( Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen will still have the chance to arrest Putin – virtually [// Read more]( [ANC elective conference Del 5]( Premium [ANC boots rebel members after Mangaung by-elections victory]( The governing party is now looking to oust Democratic Alliance speaker Maryke Davies [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Senzo Meyiwa trial: Witness says she only saw accused number two in court]( Zandile Khumalo, the first witness, did not attend an identification parade of the five suspects that are in court [// Read more]( [No change to repo rate but bank warns it is not the end of hikes]( Sticky inflation in major economies suggests that average interest rates will remain high and upside risks to the domestic inflation outlook remain [// Read more]( [Collective memory, private reflection]( This selection of images comes from iHubo: Nkosi Sikelela, an exhibition of new work by Jabulani Dhlamini and Thembinkosi Hlatshwayo, on at the Goodman Gallery, Cape Town [// Read more]( [‘Will Komati power station shift to renewable energy cater for everyone?’]( Komati has been earmarked to be the facility pioneering the transition from coal to renewables in Mpumalanga [// Read more]( [Zuma unable to stomach his own medicine]( There is irony in Msholozi being forced under the heel of the monstrous correctional services system he propped up – will he return behind bars? [// Read more]( Pic of the day [BIGPICJULY (1)] Exploitation: Artisanal miners, including women and children, work in a cobalt mine under extreme conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cobalt, a component of rechargeable batteries used in cellphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices, is obtained from mines in the DRC. Photo: Augustin Wamenya/Getty Images [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa