The remains of some of the 11 South Africans left in Nigeria after a building collapse killed more than 100 will be on home soil this week.
A South African National Defence Force aircraft, now in Nigeria with a repatriation team, is expected back tomorrow, said government spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
“The remains of those that have been positively identified will be returned to the country on Wednesday evening,” she added.
“They will then be transported from the Waterkloof to the nearest government mortuaries and the details will be communicated with families through social workers.”
However, families of the deceased were not happy with the latest news.
Joe Jordan, who lost his son, Sidima, in the tragedy, said the government had clearly stated that not all the remains would be back on Wednesday.
“To me, they should have only announced it when all were back,” he complained.
Lwandle Mkhulusi, whose sister, Patricia, also died, said: “I am not happy with this. We want all of the deceased back in the country.”
It has been more than four months since a multi-storey guesthouse in Lagos, belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations’ charismatic televangelist TB Joshua, collapsed, killing 85 South Africans.
Williams said that since the tragedy the country was committed to do all in its power to ensure all the injured and deceased were returned home. “President Jacob Zuma, appointed an inter-ministerial committee to oversee government’s response to the tragedy.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure were activated to coordinate various roleplayers and lead technical planning for the identification and repatriation of both the injured and the deceased.”
In November last year, the remains of 74 South Africans were flown back to South Africa after positive identification.
However, 11 were left behind as the Nigerian authorities refused to release them without positive identification. In December, more samples of DNA were taken from families and sent to Stellenbosch for other tests.
“The government expresses its appreciation to the Nigerian authorities for the cooperation accorded to us during the identification and repatriation of the injured and deceased South Africans,” said Williams. He invited the bereaved to call state counsellors on 0800-428-428 or to send a “please call me” text message to: *120*7867#. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
More Nigeria dead home this week
A South African National Defence Force aircraft, now in Nigeria with a repatriation team, is expected back tomorrow, said government spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
“The remains of those that have been positively identified will be returned to the country on Wednesday evening,” she added.
“They will then be transported from the Waterkloof to the nearest government mortuaries and the details will be communicated with families through social workers.”
However, families of the deceased were not happy with the latest news.
Joe Jordan, who lost his son, Sidima, in the tragedy, said the government had clearly stated that not all the remains would be back on Wednesday.
“To me, they should have only announced it when all were back,” he complained.
Lwandle Mkhulusi, whose sister, Patricia, also died, said: “I am not happy with this. We want all of the deceased back in the country.”
It has been more than four months since a multi-storey guesthouse in Lagos, belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations’ charismatic televangelist TB Joshua, collapsed, killing 85 South Africans.
Williams said that since the tragedy the country was committed to do all in its power to ensure all the injured and deceased were returned home. “President Jacob Zuma, appointed an inter-ministerial committee to oversee government’s response to the tragedy.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure were activated to coordinate various roleplayers and lead technical planning for the identification and repatriation of both the injured and the deceased.”
In November last year, the remains of 74 South Africans were flown back to South Africa after positive identification.
However, 11 were left behind as the Nigerian authorities refused to release them without positive identification. In December, more samples of DNA were taken from families and sent to Stellenbosch for other tests.
“The government expresses its appreciation to the Nigerian authorities for the cooperation accorded to us during the identification and repatriation of the injured and deceased South Africans,” said Williams. He invited the bereaved to call state counsellors on 0800-428-428 or to send a “please call me” text message to: *120*7867#. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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