When I heard the news last week that government might be forced to exhume the bodies of over 80 victims of the SCOAN building collapse, I was unsure how to feel.
This after a family disputed the identity of the body given to them, after the last batch of bodies was brought back to South Africa almost five months after the collapse.
The long wait before burying a loved one can be frustrating in itself, let alone having to imagine your loved one buried by another family.
I did feel however, that the family was directing its frustrations in the wrong direction.
The way I see it, the prophet, TB Joshua whom the victims had gone to visit and in whose church they died, owes them an explanation. I also believe the Nigerian government, who was in charge of conducting DNA testing on the bodies, should be answering questions on matters pertaining to that.
As I understand it, our government was not involved in the process of identifying the bodies and, according to Minister in the Presidency Mr Jeff Radebe, this was all done by the Nigerian Authorities. He said South Africa only provided the necessary information to ensure the process finally concluded.
Without being insensitive, allow me to say, I don’t believe the South African government should be held responsible for the alleged mix up of the bodies.
Yes, it is government’s job to have the backs of its people. I am convinced that, in this case, the relevant departments came together, stood by its people and did right by them when they found themselves in trouble in Lagos.
I commend those families who have instituted lawsuits against the church, it is the right thing to do. Although it will not bring back their loved ones, it will compensate for the loss and hopefully bring the parties responsible to account.
If it so happens that graves are exhumed, I fear for those who had been struggling to come to terms with the death of their loved ones.
I wonder how this will affect the families who had already put the matter behind them and are dealing with the loss.
It annoys me that the ‘man of God’ has not appeared before the Coroner’s Inquiry, yet people continue to defend him despite his refusal to account.
My thoughts are with the children who lost their parents in the collapse, spouses who lost their partners there. I feel for the parents and siblings who lost a family member.
I do pray, however, that their death be an eye opener to many Christians and a reminder of Matthew 6:33; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.
