Synagogue tragedy: T.B Joshua takes victims’ families shopping

The pastor of the Synagogue Church of All Nations,
TB (Temitope Balogun) Joshua, took some of the
relatives of the 85 South Africans killed in the
church’s guesthouse that collapsed on September
12 on a shopping spree on Christmas day.
Joshua was also reported to have showered the
relatives with cash and gifts, a South African
newspaper, Daily News reported.
One of the bereaved, 47-year-old Wonder Ndlovu,
whose husband was killed in the building collapse,
was among the first group to spend time with the
pastor after the tragedy.
She was quoted by the newspaper as saying that
she and others who visited Nigeria had a “nice
time, went shopping and stayed in beautiful
hotels.”
Ndlovu stated that before they went out shopping,
they were taken to the building collapse site where
the televangelist was said to have laid his hands
on and prayed for the relatives.
“We met with the man of God (Joshua) and he
briefed us about the site visit. Wiseman Harry and
other evangelists took us there; it was very
emotional for me, but others were strong and
comforting. I brought flowers from South Africa and
laid them with my son. It is ugly. Looking at the
building foundations we are convinced it was an
attack,” the widow said.
She added, “The prophet is full of surprises. After
weeping, he took us to the city to see places. To
our surprise, we shopped till we dropped and the
bill was on him. We were having the time of our
lives, forgetting the pain of the past and looking
forward to picking up the pieces and moving on.
Yesterday has gone by, but tomorrow is forever.
“He (Joshua) took us to a five-star posh hotel for
dinner, fine food and drinks. The hotel is in Victoria
Island. After chilling, we came back in his
luxurious kombis. (There were) more surprises
while (we were) preparing to sleep. The mamas
who took us shopping knocked and presented us
with N50, 000 each and they said we (must not)
use all our (own) shopping money… I just sang A
huna ya tshwana le yena (there’s no one like him)
.”
According to the South African newspaper, the
popular televangelist invited 44 family members of
the deceased for Christmas dinner and many of
them accepted.
Speaking from Nigeria, Kirsten Nematandani, a
spokesman for the church based in South Africa,
confirmed to Daily News that a second group
would visit this month.
Meanwhile, some of the KZN families who have
received invitations to meet Joshua this month
said they would gladly go.
Another South African, 29-year-old Simphiwe
Ngcobo, said the trip to the Nigeria would help him
connect “spiritually” with his parents, Dickie and
Dennis Ngcobo. He said he was excited about the
trip and would travel with a relative this month.
“It is important for us to go to the site and pay our
respects to our loved ones. We have accepted
their death and we are moving on. We could have
gone with the first group of families but we decided
to be with the family over Christmas. We have no
qualms against anyone, which is why we have
gladly accepted this wonderful gesture from the
man of God,” he said.
Reverend Eric Myeni, whose 29-year-old son,
Sabelo, died in the September 12 collapse, also
accepted Joshua’s invitation.
“We need to overcome what has happened by
showing our faith in Christ. We can never reverse
our adversity. But with hope in the lord we can
overcome the pain suffered,” he said.
When our correspondent contacted the church
through one of the phone numbers provided on
SCOAN website, to confirm the report of the
relatives’ visit and the shopping spree paid for by
Joshua, a lady who picked the phone said “yes.”