Local News
FS citizens who died in Nigerian church collapse to be laid to rest─── REFILWE GAESWE 09:20 Sat, 22 Nov 2014
Bloemfontein - Two Free State citizens who died over two months ago in a church building collapse in Nigeria will be laid to rest on Saturday.
Eighty-one South Africans were killed at the guesthouse headed by preacher T.B Joshua’s Synagogue Church Of All Nations in Lagos, Nigerian on September 12, which claimed a total of 116 lives.
The bodies of 74 victims arrived back in South Africa last Sunday.
Free State Social Development MEC Sisi Ntombela says they will be assisting both Boitumelo Brandsel and Ditaba Mabe’s families. She mentioned that both families have already received assistance for burial procedures.
Ntombela says Brandsel will be buried in Thaba Nchu while Mabe’s funeral will be held at the Phuthaditjhaba Stadium in QwaQwa.
She says both funerals will start at 08:00 on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Free State government spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said they provided Mabe and Brandsel’s families with psychosocial services during this period of grief.
Meanwhile national government spokesperson Phumla Williams said in a statement that government will deploy social workers to continue to provide psychosocial support to the affected families.
Meanwhile, Free State government spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said they provided Mabe and Brandsel’s families with psychosocial services during this period of grief.
Meanwhile national government spokesperson Phumla Williams said in a statement that government will deploy social workers to continue to provide psychosocial support to the affected families.
Government hosted a formal reception ceremony at the Waterkloof Air Force Base last Sunday to receive the mortal remains of the South Africans. Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini held a meeting with families on the evening of 15 November 2014 to give them information on how government will provide continuous support to the families.
Williams said at the end of the formal reception ceremony, the mortal remains were transported to the closest government Forensic Pathology Services mortuaries in the different provinces.
Government reiterated the request for families not to view the mortal remains. She stated that the request is made out of concern for secondary trauma for the families as well as public health considerations.
Refilwe Mekoa/OFM News
Sisi Ntombela :
