Joshua and his collapsed church hostel |
There is palpable fear and tension as two South
Africans who lost relatives when a church hostel in Lagos collapsed have told
the BBC they intend to sue the General Overseer of Synagogue Church of
All Nations, Pastor Temitope Joshua.
The BBC reported that the two men, who
both lost sisters in the collapse, were appealing for more families to come
together in bringing a case against the preacher. And this move, SHOWBIZPLUSng
gathered is giving Joshua and leaders of his embattled and controversial church
sleepless nights.
At least 115 people, including 84 South Africans,
died when the multi-storey building fell down on September 12.
The authorities said it had more floors than its
foundation could hold.
On Sunday, Joshua announced plans to travel to
South Africa to visit the families of the deceased.
Officials suspect the foundations were not
suitable for extra floors to be added to the building
Emergency workers alleged they were prevented
from participating in the rescue, only gaining full access to the site on
Sunday afternoon. But Joshua had denied these accusations.
“I understand that some families are afraid to
take on someone who purports to be God’s messenger and I don’t blame them but I
will do this,” Thanduxolo Doro, whose sister died in the Lagos collapse said.
Thanduxolo Doro and Mpho Molebatsi waited at
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport for days after the collapse for news of their
sisters, who had been visiting SCOAN.
Both families had last heard from their relatives
hours before the collapse.
“It is not that the building collapsed, rather what
was done after the collapse – we didn’t get any news from the church,” Doro,
whose sister Vathiswa Madikiza died, told the BBC.
“When I contacted them they wouldn’t tell me
anything. We saw reports that emergency workers were denied access initially,
access that could have saved lives. The actions of the church after the
incident are very telling,” he said.
In an open letter published in South Africa’s
Star newspaper, Doro called on more families to sue Joshua.
“I need to do this for her. Even if I stand
alone, I am determined to see that something is done,” he told the BBC.
“I understand that some families are afraid to
take on someone who purports to be God’s messenger and I don’t blame them but I
will do this,” he said.
Doro said he was informed by South African
officials about his sister’s death this week, but had to wait for the results
of the DNA tests before her body could be repatriated for burial.
1 comment:
bROS, TELL THE WORD THE TRUTH PEOPLE CAN FORGIVE U.
SORRY!!!
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