It is Friday 23 September.
The smell of burning is still fresh in the air, water streaming down the street.
Damaged tin foods lay strewn and a gutted vehicle.
This is the aftermath of a devastating explosion that took place just after 19:00 on Thursday 22 September at SR Superette in Woodstock.
Two men, who suffered severe burn wounds, died in hospital on Saturday 24 September.
As one approaches the corner of Plein Street, residents and bystanders standby helplessly as they discuss events of the night before.
“It was like a scene out of a movie. I could hear people screaming, and I felt helpless.”
This is the traumatic scene Woodstock resident Ricardo Jacobs was met with when he rushed to the store. He lives a few metres away and often visited the store.
One of the men who died was his neighbour, he explains.
“There was nothing we could do. Because of load shedding, what I assumed could have happened is somebody lit a light to be able to see, and that’s how the whole thing happened. They do sell gas there.”
Tamia Ndlovu says: “I was sitting in my room waiting for the electricity to come back on. Then suddenly I heard a sound which sounded like somebody was on top of the roof, it just shook. We came outside thinking somebody was in the roof but then we realised it was an explosion. We walked down to the scene. The fire was bad.”
Maryam-shams Imboyo, a member of The Word of God Church which is located on the top floor of the two-storey building, says she was called to the scene just after 19:00.
“Somebody called us and said our church was burning. We came here and saw it was only the store that was on fire. The church is fine, just the windows are broken.”
According to the city’s fire and rescue service the two men sustained 70% to 100% burn wounds and were taken to Groote Schuur Hospital.
Alaric Jacobs, Communication Officer for the hospital, says both men died on Saturday.
Eckardt Winks, Executive Support Officer in the City’s safety and security directorate, says that preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by a gas leakage, after gas bottles were found on the premises.
“The gas canisters were themselves still intact, but evidence suggests that gas was possibly used for basic cooking purposes after a two-plate gas cooker was found towards the back of the shop in close proximity to the canisters.”
He says it is believed that due to the increased pressure of the larger canisters, a leak could have developed.
“Since gas is heavier than air, it is believed that the gas created a “blanket” that crept along the floor until the shop had become completely saturated, including soaking the clothes of the two victims unbeknown to them, as they were standing behind a counter close to the entrance of the shop
“Ignition would have come from any of the induction motors used to drive the refrigeration equipment, which would have then ignited the pocket of gas that had filled the premises. With the sudden expansion of mass resulting, the windows and shop front exploded out to the street, followed by debris from inside the shop.”
Winks explains that due to the coincidental design of the shop in front where aluminium and glass was fixed between the structural pillars, it caused the softer material to be forced outwards allowing the pressure to easily escape, while leaving the structural pillars and formwork of the building undamaged.
“While the scene has been handed over to Saps for further investigation, the City of Cape Town’s Fire Safety division does undertake compliance inspections where complaints are received from the public. To date, no complaints were received for fire safety related aspects for the premises in question.”
He says the importance of fire safety remains an important aspect for all property owners to consider, and likewise the tenants that operate such properties.
Winks says safety requirements as stipulated within SANS10087 manual, as well as the City of Cape Town Community Fire Safety by-law applies to all.
“As in this case, the use of 48 kg gas cannisters within a premises is strictly prohibited, with the limitation allowing only for use of a canister up to 19 kg’s and if installed and used correctly and operated under a valid Certificate of Compliance.”
Col Delven Matroos, Woodstock Police Station Commander, says the incident is being investigated.
