By Victor Nyakey.
JOHANNESBURG –The aircraft carrying the remains of 74 out of 85 South Africans who lost their lives in the Synagogue church guesthouse collapse in Lagos, which occurred on Friday September 12, has landed at Pretoria’s Waterkloof Air Force base near Pretoria on Sunday November 16.
In an earlier statement, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said that the original number of 85 to be repatriated had been revised down to 74, as the process of identifying the deceased was still not complete.
The Seakamela family in the North West’s capital Mahikeng say the long awaited repatriation of the body of their beloved Mpho Seakamela, a 54-year old female professional teacher, has brought them a relief after two months.
Tshekedi Mogatosi, Mpho’s brother says: “As the family we are happy. At least our sister, our daughter, our mother is back. So I think for now is time for us to prepare, so that at the end she must rest in peace. We do not want to point a finger to anybody, because last night the minister and his team explained to us, what happened why so long. So I think they are reliable people, we accept that we are ready maybe to close the chapter.”
After landing at Waterkloof airforce base the bodies were transported by road to Forensic Pathology Services mortuaries in different provinces before going to government mortuaries closest to where families will bury their loved ones.
Over the next few days, families will finally be able to give their relatives a dignified burial, two months after the tragedy.
But government has again warned families of health and secondary trauma risk if they view the remains. After two months in mortuaries plagued by intermittent power supply and below par cooling facilities – some of the bodies have decomposed.
Meanwhile, an inquiry is still underway to determine what caused the tragedy. Over 100 people lost their lives and others injured when the SCOAN guesthouse tragically crumbled, after a strange aircraft flew low multiple times over the building, as captured on CCTV cameras at the church premises.
Zambia have secured their passage to the 2015 African Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique courtesy of a Given singuluma strike, reports Zambian Eye sports corespondent.
And Cape Verde ensured qualification as group leaders after beating Niger 3-1 on Saturday to claim top place.
The win in Maputo was Zambia first away win and second successive in the qualifiers after a difficult start that saw them staring at the prospect of missing out on the 2015 tournament after picking up two points in their first three games.
Zambia were on the back-foot for most of the first half as Mozambique dominated led by Elias Pelembe who had a 9th minute shot saved by his Mamelodi Sundowns club mate Kennedy Mweene.
Zambia’s best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute when defender Christopher Munthali header off a Rainford Kalaba cross was saved by Ricardo Campos.
Mozambique striker Maninho then missed a glorious opportunity to give the Mamba’s a 1-0 halftime lead when he failed to connect with Josemar’s cross in the 42nd minute.
Zambia then survived an injustice after Mozambique won a dubious penalty in the 58th minute when Emmanuel Mbola’s clearance with his feet was adjudged to be a handball.
Mweene, though, saved the resultant penalty taken by Pelembe.
Zambia recovered from that episode to seal the win in the 66th minute through striker Given Singuluma who volleyed in from close range after some good work by Kalaba.
Chipolopolo move to 8 points, four behind leaders Cape Verde who beat bottom placed Niger in the late Group F kickoff on Saturday night while Mozambique stay third on 5 points.
Zambia face Cape Verde on Wednesday
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