Trucking Company, Employer and Municipality Face R65 Million Lawsuit Over Boksburg Tanker Explosion

Nearly two years after the deadly Boksburg tanker explosion, three defendants – Infinite Fleet Transport (Pty) Ltd, Innovative Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd, and the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality – are being hauled before the Johannesburg High Court in a R65 million lawsuit filed on behalf of 67 victims.

The case, launched by LHL Attorneys Inc., seeks damages for loss of support, injuries, property damage, and emotional distress suffered by survivors and families of those killed in the December 24, 2022 blast.

The tragedy unfolded when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, owned by Infinite Fleet Transport, became stuck under a low railway bridge near Tambo Memorial Hospital before exploding in a fireball. The inferno killed 41 people, injured more than 100, and left homes and businesses destroyed.

According to the claim, the three defendants each played a role in what lawyers argue was a preventable catastrophe:

• Infinite Fleet Transport is accused of failing to have adequate monitoring systems in place to keep the tanker away from unsafe routes.
• Innovative Staffing Solutions, the labour broker that supplied the driver, is accused of not ensuring he was properly trained to handle hazardous cargo.
• The City of Ekurhuleni faces allegations of failing to provide adequate road signage and a poor emergency response, including not evacuating residents before the blast.

Read | Employer explains driver’s actions after horrific Boksburg explosion

“This was not just an accident – it was a preventable catastrophe rooted in corporate and municipal negligence,” said Gabrielle Berkowitz of LHL Attorneys. “Our mission is to obtain justice for the victims, hold those responsible to account, and prevent a repeat of such tragedies.”

The law firm has confirmed the claim will be pursued on a contingency basis – meaning victims won’t have to pay legal fees unless the case is successful.

Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed receipt of the summons: “The sheriff just dropped the papers, and our legal team is studying them.”