South Africa: DNA Analysis Starts on Church Collapse Victims

DNA samples of the 116 victims of the church
building collapse in Nigeria have arrived at a
laboratory in South Africa for analysis, Minister
in the Presidency Jeff Radebe announced on
Thursday.
"Such analysis has commenced,", he told a
media briefing at Parliament in Cape Town,
following Cabinet's fortnightly meeting on
Wednesday.
Radebe was not able to say how long this
process would take.
"Only when the DNA analysis has been
finalised will our government be able to
conclusively identify South Africans from
among the 116 people who died in this
incident," he said.
It is believed 85 people from South Africa were
among those killed when a multi-storey
guesthouse attached to the Synagogue
Church of All Nations, run by Nigerian preacher
TB Joshua, collapsed in Lagos on September
12.
Radebe said the DNA process was in the
hands of the Nigerian authorities, who had
appointed a laboratory in Stellenbosch,
Western Cape, to do the analysis.
"Since the DNA process is in the hands of the
Nigerian authorities, we are unable to provide
any update regarding the timeframes when this
process might be completed."
On logistical arrangements for the repatriation
of the victims' remains, he said this process
could start as soon as the Nigerian authorities
released the bodies.
The National Joint Intelligence Structure
(NATJOINTS) had agreed that on
announcement of release of the bodies, an
advanced team -- comprising officials of the
National Disaster Management Centres, the SA
Military Health Service, the national
department of health and the SA Police
Service's forensic service -- would go to
Lagos.
"The advance team will finalise all necessary
and administrative processes and prepare the
mortal remains for their final journey back
home.
"The intricate preparatory work may take up
to seven days to complete from the time of the
team's arrival in Lagos."
Radebe said NATJOINTS had identified a
suitably equipped aircraft to transport the
bodies home. The return flight to Air Force
Base Waterkloof near Pretoria would take six
to eight hours.
"From Waterkloof, the mortal remains will be
transported by road to their respective
provinces, where families will proceed with
their own funeral arrangements," Radebe said.
Preparations were at an advanced stage for
the formal reception of the bodies at
Waterkloof.
"More details will be communicated closer to
the time," he said.
A total of 85 bodies will be flown back from
Lagos -- 81 South Africans, as well as the
bodies of three Zimbabweans and a citizen of
the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were
all South African passport holders.