Suspense keeps relatives counting sheep
Some relatives and family members of the victims who died when a building of Synagogue Church of all Nations headed by preacher TB Joshua collapsed in Nigeria, are getting impatient as they claimed they have waited for far too long to get the remains of their loved ones.
MBOMBELA – Some relatives and family members of the victims who died when a building of Synagogue Church of all Nations headed by preacher TB Joshua collapsed in Nigeria, are getting impatient as they claimed they have waited for far too long to get the remains of their loved ones.
During the tragedy that occurred on September 12, 116 people died which includes 81 South Africans.
Speaking to this publication, one of the relatives who didn’t want his name to be revealed, said they have done everything they could in terms of providing information or details to the authorities that were needed so that their remains could be transferred back to South Africa, but they are fed up with the slow pace.
“The waiting is giving us sleepless nights. It’s almost close to two months, but we don’t see any signs of progress in terms getting the remains of our loved ones so that we can lay them to rest.
I was very touched a few weeks ago when I was watching the news and I heard that some of the bodies were already at a decomposed stage. This is totally unacceptable and it’s against our culture to keep a body for a very long time ,” he said.
He stated that as we are approaching the festive season, it would be a good Christmas present to receive the remains of his nephew. “The situation we experience at home daily is very traumatising.
We’ve been crying for a very long time and we don’t have peace at all. We don’t know what to do in terms of funeral arrangements because you can’t arrange a funeral when you don’t have a body to bury,” he said.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the remains could arrive this week as the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Lulu Mnguni said the process of bringing the remains back was being finalised.
Speaking to this publication, cultural expert, Dr Mafika Lubisi said: “Kulesehlakalo tintfo tiyindida (In this incident, things are very confusing ).
The process has taken too long and according to our customs, a week or two is enough for burial. In this instance, family members must not take the remains inside their yards, it’s against our culture “kuyatila” and it’s important to perform a ritual, collect their spirits in Nigeria for example.
Even heroes or leaders of the ruling party who died in exile, their spirits were collected to ensure that they lay in peace at home, close to their ancestors.”
Good news is, Minister in The Presidency, Mr Jeff Radebe who travelled to Nigeria, Lagos this week, announced that all contingencies were in place to repatriate all the bodies back to South Africa by this weekend.
