Johannesburg - On Sunday afternoon, Pamela Mthethwa was still desperately hoping that her brother and his wife were still alive.
She said she prayed that by posting pictures of Mandla and Lufuno Mthethwa online, someone in Nigeria could confirm they were still alive after being trapped in the collapse of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) guest house, which killed at least 86 people, including 84 South Africans.
But less than an hour later, the news came through from church representatives visiting her family in Orange Farm, south of Joburg, that the couple and one of Lufuno’s children, 9-year-old Ronewa Mulaudzi, were believed to be dead.
Mthethwa had no idea her brother and his wife were followers of TB Joshua Ministries.
It was only on Friday that she and her extended family pieced together that Mandla, Lufuno and their three children - Zama, Siphelele and Ronewa - had made the trip to Nigeria more than a week before.
Countless unanswered phone calls to the couple seemed to confirm the family’s deepest fears, but slivers of good news throughout the weekend had kept alive Mthethwa’s faint hopes for her brother’s family’s survival.
On Saturday, it was reported that a 4-year-old girl had been discovered alive in the rubble.
Immediately, Mthethwa contacted Gift of the Givers, an aid organisation trying to track information on the 84 South Africans killed in the building collapse.
Mthethwa prayed that the young girl was Zama, and sent pictures to the organisation to see if she could be identified.
The organisation’s founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said they were able to confirm her identity.
The Mthethwas were relieved that the 4-year-old had sustained only minor injuries to her hand, and was able to talk after being taken to a local hospital.
Later in the day, more good news helped keep up the family’s spirits.
A 2-year-old girl was discovered at a nearby church, where survivors were being sheltered while the authorities continued their investigation.
Unlike her sister, Siphelele was apparently uninjured.
Before confirmation of her brother’s death on Sunday, Mthethwa said she knew the chances were slim, but that the whole family were still clinging to the dim hope he was somehow among the people rescued in the aftermath.
But she said she realised that her brother could also be among the dozens of bodies still unidentified in Lagos.
When the news broke that the couple were believed to be dead, all she could ask was: “Can life be that cruel?”
Mthethwa said her family eagerly awaited the two children’s arrival in South Africa this week, but still feared for their safety while being kept in Nigeria.
The siblings are expected to live with their maternal grandmother on their arrival in South Africa.
Lufuno Mthethwa’s Facebook page told the story of a deeply religious woman, with numerous ministers, including TB Joshua, as part of her “likes” page.
Instead of the usual profile picture, hers was an uplifting message showing her faith and said: “Stay in peace. God’s got you in the palm of his hand.”
Meanwhile, the Gift of the Givers has reported that since meeting with Scoan representatives, their own efforts to receive up-to-date information on the rescue and investigative efforts were running smoothly.
It was reported at the weekend that 349 South Africans were in Lagos on church business when the disaster occurred that fateful Friday September 12.