Province mourns 12 killed in Nigeria

The remains of nine Eastern Cape residents who died when a church hostel collapsed in Nigeria two months ago have finally arrived home.

The remains were officially handed over to the families by Masualle.  Two Eastern Cape survivors who escaped the collapse, Thobile Madyaka and Xoliswa Mjongile,  also attended the memorial service.

Mjongile, who travelled to Nigeria with Nobahle Gcatazo and Vathiswa Madikiza, said the tragedy still haunted her.

“I still get flashes of that day and I am still in pain.

“I am shocked that Madikiza had died there,” she said.

Madyaka said the church had given R50000 to every family who lost a loved one.

“The church is doing the best to assist the family and children of the deceased.

“We have given them the money for the funeral and we are happy that the deceased are finally home,” said Madyaka.

Scoan’s South African representative Kirsten Nematandani said the church would spend more than R8-million on assisting with the burials of the dead. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za