Lagos collapse claims life of former local official

The collapse of a building at a Synagogue of all Nations in Nigeria has claimed the life of former Umjindi Local Municipality municipal manager, Ms Sibongile Mnisi on September 12.

Speaking to Mpumalanga News, one of the family members, whose identity is known to this publication, but requested that it must not be published for certain reasons said, “We still find it very hard to accept that she is no more.

We started to call her last Tuesday, but both her phones were off. Then on Wednesday when we were watching the news, we saw the number on our TV screen that you can call to check your relatives and on Thursday we arrived at OR Tambo International Airport, hoping that we would see her at the arrivals hall, but nothing.

“As we were working very closely with the international relations office, they requested my personal details and how I was I related to her then, I told them that she was my sister. At a later stage, I received a call about the bad news.

I’m sorry, I have no further comments at this stage,” she pleaded. The speaker of Umjindi Local Municipality, Cllr Vusi Mkhatshwa said, “On behalf of the municipality, we’d like to send our condolences to the Mnisi family. We are still very shocked.

“Even though she was with Salga at the time of her death, we are still enjoying the good work that she did for the people of Barberton. May her soul rest in peace,” said Mkhatshwa.

Ms Noncebo Dlamini said, “During her time at the municipality, she was not just occupying the position of being a municipal manager, but she was a mother to the society. She never took people for granted. Serving two terms shows that she was indeed born to be a leader,” she concluded.

The Council of Churches’ Past Luke Dlamini from the African Methodist Episcopal Church in KaNyamazane and a member of the council said, “All we can say to the families who lost their loved ones is, we will always be with them in prayer.

Those victims who are still in hospital, we wish them a speedy recovery. “To the church in Nigeria itself, we are saying in the journey of faith, such situations may come, but we must not change our focus in worshipping God.

As human beings, I would say our faith is tested in many ways, but keep us close to God,” he concluded.