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News24 reports that police officers and trainees were evacuated from the SA Police Service (SAPS) Training Academy in Tshwane after a gas pipeline exploded on Wednesday morning.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola ordered the evacuation of more than 2,500 police trainees as well as officers from other specialised units, including the Natjoints Coordination Centre, stationed at the academy. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the decision to evacuate was taken following consultation with experts. Masemola said the safety of police trainees and members was a priority, and the evacuation was a precautionary measure to preserve lives. No injuries were reported. A venue operational centre comprising various experts was established under the command of the deputy national commissioner for policing. The explosion, which ignited a fire, happened next to Rebecca Road, near one of the entrances to the academy. Spokesperson for Tshwane Emergency Services, Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, said the fire was reported to the emergency control centre at 11:58. Firefighters took a decision to not extinguish the fire because of the possibility that a vapour cloud could form and explode. At around 13:55, Sasol confirmed it was one of their pipes, and closed the valves. Firefighters waited for the fire to burn out. They, however, extinguished a fire in an abandoned building adjacent to where the blaze erupted.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley at News24
- Read too, SAPS evacuates over 2,500 trainees after gas pipeline explosion, at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page