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On 12 September a multi-storey guest house of The Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria collapsed claiming the lives of South Africans. There were a total of 349 South Africans in Lagos on matters connected to the church at the time of the tragic incident.
The South African government has now activated its comprehensive repatriation plan. A Mass Body Repatriation Team consisting of 87 specialist members from the Department of Health, the South African Police Service and the South African Military Health Serviceleft South Africa for Nigeria on Friday to begin the process of repatriating the mortal remains.
Nigerian authorities on Saturday. 15 November 2014 officially handed over positively identified mortal remains of South Africans to Minister in the President Jeff Radebe at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
The South African government will on Sunday,16 November 2014 host a formal reception ceremony at the Air Force Base Waterkloof to receive the mortal remains of our departed compatriots. Social workers from the Department of Social Development are in continuous engagement with the families regarding the logistics around their participation in the formal reception. The event is strictly per invitation. No person without formal accreditation will be allowed to enter the Air Force Base Waterkloof.
At the end of the formal reception ceremony, the mortal remains will be transported by road to the closest government Forensic Pathology Services mortuaries in the different provinces.
Road closures
A partial street closure will be implemented on Sunday16 November 2014 from 04h00 until completion the memorial service of victims of the Nigeria disaster. The following streets will be affected:
- Trichart road from Kruger Avenue to Union Avenue
- Solomon Mahlangu road from R21 to Velpou street
Tshwane Metro Police will be policing the affected areas for safety and security purposes. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes during this period.
Speeches and statements
- Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa: Ceremony to receive the mortal remains of South Africans who perished in Nigeria, 16 Nov 2014
- Update on the formal reception of the mortal remains from the Nigeria tragedy, 15 Nov 2014
- Minister Jeff Radebe: Repatriation of South African deceased from Nigeria, 15 Nov 2014
- South African repatriation team heads to Nigeria - 14 Nov 2014
- Tshwane on street closures for memorial service of victims of Nigeria disaster - 14 Nov 2014
- Minister Jeff Radebe: Media briefing on meetings held the Nigerian government - 11 Nov 2014
- Update on government’s efforts to repatriate mortal remains from Nigeria - 6 Nov 2014
- Parliament on identification process of South Africans who died in Nigeria - 29 Oct 2014
- Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa: Oral reply to questions in National Council of Provinces - 28 Oct 2014
- Government on repatriation of mortal remains of South Africans from Nigeria - 23 Oct 2014
- Statement of Cabinet meeting of 22 October 2014 - 23 Oct 2014
- Update on efforts to repatriate mortal remains of SA citizens from Nigeria - 3 Oct 2014
- Update on efforts to repatriate the mortal remains of deceased South Africans from Nigeria - 28 Sep 2014
- Media briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on the Nigeria tragedy - 27 Sep 2014
- Update on the identification of SA citizens in Lagos - 24 Sep 2014
- Update on the situation affecting SA citizens in Lagos - 21 Sep 2014
- Update by Minister Jeff Radebe, The Head of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on the South African Citizens affected by the church building collapse in Nigeria - 19 Sep 2014
- Update on the South African citizens affected by the church building collapse in Nigeria - 19 Sep 2014
- Update on the situation affecting South African citizens in Lagos - 18 Sep 2014
- Statement by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on developments relating to South African citizens at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria - 17 Sep 2014
- Media briefing to update the media on developments following the church building collapse in Nigeria - 17 Sep 2014
- Committee sends condolences, welcomes government intervention in Nigerian church tragedy - 17 Sep 2014
- Statement by President Jacob Zuma regarding South African citizens affected by the church building collapse in Nigeria - 16 Sep 2014
- Statement on SA citizens affected by the church building collapse in Nigeria - 15 Sep 2014
Opinion pieces
- SA ready to receive bodies of fallen - Minister Jeff Radebe, 13 Nov 2014
- Nigerian tragedy has impacted on SA’s psyche - Minister Jeff Radebe, 28 Sept2014
Photo galleries
- Arrival of mortal remains of victims of Nigeria building collapse at Waterkloof Airforce Base, 16 Nov 2014
- Repatriation of mortal remains from Nigeria, 15 Nov
- Special Envoy to Nigeria, 13 Nov 2014
- Minister Jeff Radebe in Nigeria, 11 Nov 2014
- Government briefs media on Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapse updates, 21 Sep 2014
- Briefing on developments following the collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, 17 Sep 2014
Video
- Formal ceremony to receive mortal remains - 18 Nov 2014
- Minister Radebe with Lagos State' Governor Babatunde Fashola - 13 Nov 2014
- Minister Jeff Radebe in Nigeria for repatriation of Lagos building collapse victims - 11 Nov 2014
- Phumla Williams gives update on repatriation of mortal remains from Nigeria - 7 Nov 2014
- President Jacob Zuma statement on Nigerian Synagogue Church tragedy - 22 Sep 2014
