Pretoria - It was the sombre tone of the music that first got to the mourners. Slowly, the four forensic pathology vehicles drove past family members whose relatives died in the Nigeria church building collapse as the brass band’s strains filled the air.
They wept uncontrollably as the director-general in the Presidency, Casius Lubisi, read out the names of their relatives at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
Loud cries could be heard and some collapsed and were stretchered out of the hangar where a formal reception for the bodies of 74 South Africans was held.
Most people in the hangar wore black, with white scarves branded with the logo of Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua’s television network.
Proceedings got under way just after 3pm with a rendition by the police band of the 1862 American civil war song Battle Cry of Freedom, written by US composer George Frederick Root, and later the South African national anthem.
The mourners sat with eyes glued to large television screens as Lubisi read out the names of the 74 whose remains had arrived back earlier.
It was also announced that a member of the South African team of experts, Peter Fuhri, who was among people sent by the government to Nigeria after the tragedy, had become ill with malaria and died in Lagos.
Fuhri was a director in the Department of Health and was responsible for the repatriation of the injured a month ago, and was to form part of the team that was to repatriate the deceased.
Nothing could have prepared mourners for the emotional rollercoaster as forensic pathology vehicles from various provinces, led by a police motorbike, proceeded slowly past the hangar.
By the time the keynote speaker, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, had walked around the venue greeting and passing messages of condolence to family members, his footsteps were the only intrusion in the silence that had filled the venue.
After a two-month wait, the remains were finally handed over to the families and were on their way to various mortuaries around the country, where they will be collected and buried privately.
A total of 116 people – 85 of them South African, three Zimbabwean and one a Democratic Republic of Congo national using South African travel papers – died in Lagos on September 12 when a guest house belonging to TB Joshua’s The Synagogue, Church of All Nations collapsed.
There were 26 injured South Africans who returned home a month ago, while the remains of 11 South Africans are still in the Nigerian capital awaiting identification. Of the injured, 20 have since been discharged and reunited with their families.
Ramaphosa said efforts were being escalated to ensure that the remaining bodies were returned home.
“To the families, we share in your grief; you can draw comfort in the knowledge that the entire South Africa shares in your grief,” said Ramaphosa in his address.
“The deceased went to church with some of us. They were part of us and had high hopes for themselves and their children and were beloved husbands, wives, brothers and sisters.” Ramaphosa delivered a message of condolence on behalf of President Jacob Zuma, the government and the people of South Africa and said that in the aftermath of the tragedy, the country’s relationship with Nigeria had been reinforced.
“We dispatched no less than 100 people to Nigeria to ensure that those who died were taken care of and sent a team of officials led by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe to facilitate the return of the mortal remains of those who died,” Ramaphosa said.
“We should now lay them to rest so that the nation can find peace.”
NAMES OF SOUTH AFRICAN DECEASED:
Eastern Cape
1. Nobahle Amanda Catazo
2. Adam Mohammed
3. Nkosana Clifford Mzinyathi
4. Vathiswa Doro Vivian Madikiza
5. Phumzile Mpondo
6. Thomas Matsila
7. Jordan Sidima
8. Pumza Masiza
9. Nosomi Grace Mfuniselwa
10. Louis Malope Lekgetho
11. Ponko Peddies Masiba
12. Jannette Jewell
Free State
13. Boitumelo Patronella Brandsel
14. Ditaba Richard Mabe
Gauteng
15. Sibongile Simelane
16. Olga Tshabalala
17. MariaTshegofatso H. Molebatsi
18. Kalabaie Jean Louis Wakalambaie
19. Dawite Gezhugn Mamo
20. Greenwich Bayai Ndanga
21. John Dheddy Lisambo Balimba
22. Catherine Ndlovu
23. Musango Tshibasu
24. Charles Nicholas Majongwe
25. Lillian Khensani Machoga
26. Sibongile Princess Mahlangu
27. Patricia Phumzile Mkhulise
28. Lerato Emily Makakaba
29. Margaret Debra Kouassi
30. Winnie Mbatha
31. Prudence Annie Mandubu
32. Evelyn Mithi Maluka
33. Ronewa Nekhwevha
34. Lufuno Mthethwa
35. Sikhulekile Mandla Comfort Mthethwa
36. Jane Sibanda
KwaZulu-Natal
37. Phumlani Sabelo Myeni
38. Thuthukani Dennis Ngcobo
39. Phumzile Nonhlanhla Ngcobo
40. Nomusa Thandiwe Nyawo
41. Precious Nokuphila Maphumulo
Limpopo
42. Isaac Molesena Mongala
43. Selelo Jane Motsipa
44. Mutangwa Susan Ramatsea
45. Azwilingwi George Tshivhase
46. Mpho Victoria Mbedzi
47. Shonisani Negukhula
48. Takalani Portia Makhani
49. Rirhandzu Mabunda
50. Robert Mamafa Madiba
51. Dimakatso Maponya
52. Eric Magezi Mathebula
53. Dorah Maake
54. Tendani Makhuvha
Mpumalanga
55. Mandla Jacob Sibanyoni
56. Zazi Rabbi Lwandle
57. Sipho Michael Mathonsi
58. Mashego Alice Tholiwe
59. Solomon Dumisani Malinga
60. Susan Nompumelelo Nkosi
61. Nokuthula Beauty Cibi
62. Zodwa Thandiwe Kubhayi
63. Ntombi Tryphina Nkuna
64. Salome Fakazile Mokoena
65. Nziyane Lenius Matlapeng
66. Lybon Mathebula
67. Martha Tinyiko Ngomane
68. Mbongeni Michael Ndlovu
69. Kgomotso Maureen Mahlwele
70. Mandla Treasure Ngwenya
71. Themba Thomas Vilakazi
72. Nomsa Mavis Mangane
73. Prudence Lindiwe Ntimba
74. Sibongile Florence Mnisi
75. Phillip John Shabalala
76. Lindiwe Bhiya
North West
77. Maphiko Moses Lobakeng
78. Caroline Kelebogile Makalela
79. Herman Dikgang Masokoane
80. Morgan Goitseone Mogolelwa
81. Caroline Mpho Seakamela
82. Kabonte Irene Makungu
Western Cape
83. Dan Samuels
Pretoria News and The Star