Motorists and truckers moving through Johannesburg are facing serious delays after a gas tanker went up in flames on the N12, forcing a full shutdown of the highway in both directions.
The incident happened around 05h50, 19 April 2026, on the N12 West just before the Comaro Road off-ramp in the Bassonia area.
According to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, the fire is extremely dangerous due to the risk of explosion, with emergency teams treating the scene as high risk.
All lanes, both eastbound and westbound, have been closed while firefighters work flat out to bring the blaze under control and cool down the tanker. Authorities say the closure could last several hours as crews secure the scene and begin clean-up operations.
Truck drivers and commuters are already feeling the pressure, with traffic backing up heavily around the southern Johannesburg network. This stretch of the N12 is a key freight route linking major industrial zones and feeding into the N3 corridor, so disruptions here hit hard across the board.
Diversions have been put in place:
- N12 Westbound towards Soweto is being diverted at the R59 Reading Interchange
- N12 Eastbound towards Alberton is being diverted at Kliprivier Drive
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services said that the tanker caught fire after a car crashed into the back of the tanker and both vehicles caught fire.
Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area completely and make use of alternative routes such as the M1 via Booysens, the R59 through Alberton, or Kliprivier Drive through the southern suburbs.
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Emergency services remain on scene, and the situation is still active. No confirmed injuries have been reported yet, but officials warn that conditions can change quickly due to the volatile cargo.
Drivers are urged to keep a safe distance and not attempt to bypass roadblocks. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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