SCOAN Building Collapse: South Africans Move To Sue T.B. Joshua

Friday, 26 September 2014

SCOAN Building Collapse: South Africans Move To Sue T.B. Joshua

Head of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations, Pastor T.B. Joshua should be readying his legal after two South African men announced their intentions to file lawsuits against him.

The two men, who both lost sisters in the collapse, are appealing for more families to come together in bringing a case against the preacher.

Thanduxolo Doro and Mpho Molebatsi waited at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport for days after the collapse for news of their sisters, who had been visiting SCOAN.

Both families had last heard from their relatives hours before the collapse, which happened at about 13:50 local time (12.50 GMT) on Friday 12 September.

“It is not that the building collapsed, rather what was done after the collapse – we didn’t get any news from the church,” Mr Doro, whose sister Vathiswa Madikiza died, told the BBC.

“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,” he said.

In an open letter published in South Africa’s Star newspaper, Mr Doro called on more families to sue Mr Joshua.

“I need to do this for her. Even if I stand alone, I am determined to see that something is done,” he told the BBC.

“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.”

Mr Doro says he was informed by South African officials about his sister’s death this week, but has to wait for the results of DNA tests before her body can be repatriated for burial.

He told the BBC that he had spoken to two families who were eager to join him in suing Mr Joshua, but no concrete plans had been made.

He has not been in contact with Mr Molebatsi, whose sister Hlubi Molebatsi was also killed.

Mr Molebatsi says he has contacted his lawyers.

“I have spoken to other families but it has been difficult because this is a time of mourning. I would like to see families get something from the church as some of the people who died were breadwinners,” he told the BBC.