Cash was scattered across rooftops, streets, trees and open spaces in Germiston after an explosion ripped through the Fidelity Security Solutions premises in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The blast at the company’s premises on Dimitri Street, Germiston, at about 4.08am sent money flying across the surrounding area, with passers-by allegedly picking up the cash and leaving the scene before police and security personnel arrived to secure it.
Police said brooms and rakes had to be used to gather the scattered money and place it into bags.
The dramatic scene unfolded as emergency teams responded to the explosion, which caused part of the building’s roof to collapse and flames to spread around the premises.
According to a police incident report, which Africa Daily has seen, a security officer, Rony Mathebula, told officers that he heard an explosion before seeing the roof collapse.
Fidelity management member Mohammed Abdus later informed the Joint Operations Centre that a panic button had been activated twice at about 4.08am.
He said that when he checked the company’s cameras, he discovered that about 80% of them were not working. He also reported that several employees were trapped inside the building.
SAPS search-and-rescue teams managed to rescue eight employees from the building.
However, one employee could not be rescued and was later declared dead.
She was identified as 38-year-old Thandeka Pinky Buthelezi.
The report states that the type of explosive used in the blast remains unknown.
Ekurhuleni emergency services cleared the scene to allow forensic and investigative teams to begin their work, with police warning that the area remained unsafe.
A large contingent of police and emergency personnel was deployed to the scene, including the national explosives team, forensic investigators, search-and-rescue teams, K-9 units, tracking teams and organised crime investigators.
The investigation into the explosion and the circumstances surrounding Buthelezi’s death is continuing.
This is a developing story.
