South African victims’ relations vow to sue TB Joshua, LASG begin DNA identification test

Thanduxolo Doro and Mpho Molebatsi, two South Africans who both lost their sisters at the Synagogue building collapse on September 12th have vowed to drag pastor T.B.Joshua to court for what they describe as negligence on the part of the church for not allowing rescue workers help save the victims after the collapse as well as withholding information after the unfortunate incident.

The South Africans who were guests on a BBC programme this week said they are calling on other family members to come forward so that they can unanimously press charges against T.B. Joshua

"I understand that some families are afraid to take on someone who purports to be God’s messenger and I don’t blame them but I will do this. It is not that the building collapsed, rather what was done after the collapse. We didn’t get any news from the church. When I contacted them they wouldn’t tell me anything. We saw reports that emergency workers were denied access initially, access that could have saved lives. The actions of the church after the incident are very telling,”  Doro, whose sister Vathiswa Madikiza died said

Doro has since published an open letter in a South African daily calling on more families to come forward so they can all sue T.B. Joshua,

"I need to do this for her. Even if I stand alone, I am determined to see that something is done" he said

In a related development, the Lagos state government today announced the commencement of the DNA identification test of the 115 dead bodies brought out from the collapsed building.

While announcing this, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris called on families who lost loved ones to come forward with DNA samples so that the bodies can be properly identified and released to them for proper burial. He said loved ones of the dead victims are to visit the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH) from today to submit samples that could aid the forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies. He said only children, parents and siblings of the deceased are eligible to submit samples. 

The Lagos state government today September 26th also constituted a coroner inquest that will investigate the real reason the building collapsed. The Lagos state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye in a statement said Magistrate O.A.Komolafe who headed the Dana Air crash case will be heading the coroner inquest.