On Now
Weekdays 09:00 - 12:00
Mid-Morning Magic Yolanda
NEXT: 12:00 - 15:00 At Lunch with Pulane
Listen Live Streams

National

Nigeria building collapse: Questions regarding delay in informing SA

───   11:28 Wed, 17 Sep 2014

Nigeria building collapse: Questions regarding delay in informing SA | News Article

Pretoria - Questions are being raised about why there was such a long delay in informing South African authorities about the deaths of 67 of its citizens after a building collapsed in Nigeria on Friday.

President Jacob Zuma announced last night, five days after a guest house at the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed.
 
The building houses visitors of a popular church run by preacher TB Joshua which attracts thousands of pilgrims from other countries.
 
CEO of Rescue SA, Ian Scher says they are ready to assist with rescue efforts and are waiting for diplomatic clearance.

Members of the Emmanuel Church in South Africa landed at OR Tambo International Airport just after 5am this morning.
Some are still going through compulsory health checks for people who travelled to West Africa.

It's understood the collapse happened around lunch time, when many of the church goers were having lunch at another venue.
Another group of Emmanuel Church members in South Africa are due to land tomorrow.

The Presidency's Mac Maharaj says they understand that a group of about 300 people went to the church last week, but they are still trying to get figures.
There have been major communication challenges with the officials in Nigeria.
The department says their team there hasn’t received cooperation from the church.

South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Louis Mnguni, also says it’s been difficult to get information.

It’s believed that there are several South Africans still unaccounted for.

The department has made it clear that communication has been a problem.

Mystery still surrounds the Synagogue Church of All Nations in the Ikotun district of Lagos.

TV evangelist Joshua, known as the ‘prophet’, who numbers former Malawian President Joyce Banda among his disciples, blames foul play.

Rescuers attribute the crash to substandard construction.

They’re concentrating on the search of the restaurant of a guest house attached to the church, where most of the victims have thus far been found.

Eyewitness News understands Joshua has a wide following and there are reports that hundreds of South Africans were attending his church services.

Joshua is known as a charismatic church leader who claims to possess healing powers and the ability to prophesise major events.

The TV evangelist has a massive following in South Africa and South Africans are known to flock to his church throughout the year.

In August last year, Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) leader Julius Malema visited the Nigerian pastor with his new party’s leadership.

Though not much is known about the building collapse, Joshua has linked the incident to a suspicious aircraft, apparently seen in the area at the time.

But this has been ruled out by rescue workers so far.

The agent who organised the trip for the 67 South Africans has not yet been willing to comment.

JacarandaFM; EWN; Sapa

Podcasts

Ian Scher :

@ 2024 OFM - All rights reserved Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | We Use Cookies - OFM is a division of Central Media Group (PTY) LTD.