Durban - South African officials on Tuesday expressed frustration at the Nigerian government’s lack of co-operation in finding out if any South Africans were killed or injured in a church guest house which collapsed in Lagos on Friday.
They said on Tuesday they had only heard rumours from relatives that at least three South Africans had been injured, among at least five church groups which had been staying in the guest house at the Synagogue Church of All Nations.
“The building collapsed on Friday. How can you not know on Tuesday whether there were any South Africans injured?” one irritated official said on Tuesday.
The South African consul-general in Lagos had been to the church on Saturday to try to find out if any South Africans had been killed or injured but had been given no information.
The government had only discovered from the organisers of tour groups that the members of at least five church groups had been staying in the guest house.
“Our consul-general and his team are at the church. They’re talking to rescue teams and authorities. No confirmation yet of South Africans affected,” Clayson Monyela, spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said on Tuesday.
In a statement on Monday night the department said: “Officials from the South African Mission in Lagos are at the scene liaising with rescue workers and government authorities in an attempt to establish whether any South African citizens have been affected by the disaster.
“The department is in contact with some of the organisers of the tour groups that travelled to the synagogue. We know of at least five South African church tour groups that were at the synagogue at the time of the collapse.
“However, it remains unclear how many South Africans were affected.
“Members of the public who wish to enquire about relatives can contact the department on a 24-hour basis using the following contact numbers: 012 351 0924/012 351 1757.” - Independent Foreign Service
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