Two explosions, less than half an hour apart, rocked downtown Johannesburg, resulting in the injury of at least 19 individuals at a fast-food restaurant and a hotel. According to the government’s Bureau of Information, the explosions are believed to have been caused by limpet mines, which are explosives designed to cling to surfaces.
At present, there is no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions, and the government has not made any accusations either.
The first explosion occurred at 2:01 pm local time within a half-full Wimpy’s restaurant situated on the ground floor of a department store building. The blast caused shattered glass to rain down on busy Rissik Street. A government spokesperson reported that 18 individuals sustained injuries, including a 2-month-old baby who was struck on the head by flying glass.
Approximately 25 minutes later, the second explosion transpired outside the President Holiday Inn, resulting in injury to a man, as confirmed by the government.
Additionally, the government spokesperson, Casper Venter, stated that an unrelated third explosion, caused by a demolition charge, occurred earlier today in a restroom at a stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg’s primary black township. Thankfully, no injuries were reported from this incident.
Sampson Litshane, a waiter at Wimpy’s, recounted witnessing two women whose clothes caught fire during the explosion. Litshane shared, “One ran into the street holding a baby, while the other fell on the floor inside.”
Mariet Oosthuizen, an office worker, described the blast at the restaurant as “like an electric shock going through me.” Oosthuizen witnessed people covered in blood with torn clothes.
In separate incidents between daybreak Monday and daybreak on Tuesday, two men lost their lives. One was shot by the police near Witbank, east of Johannesburg, while the other is believed to have been shot by individuals near the southern city of Uitenhage.
Since June 12, when a nationwide state of emergency was imposed by the government, a total of 59 people have been killed, as stated by officials.
In a related development today, delegates at the annual conference of the South African Council of Churches decided to proceed with their scheduled discussion on the country’s issues, despite the potential violation of state-of-emergency restrictions on “subversive” statements. The council is known for its outspoken criticism of the government’s apartheid policies.
Explosions rock Johannesburg, causing chaos.
