A heart-wrenching tale has been resurrected as a bereaved mother, Helene Groenewald, shared her poignant memories and never-ending sorrow just a decade after the deadly collapse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) building in Lagos, Nigeria. The edifice succumbed to structural failure on September 12, 2014, resulting in the tragic loss of 116 lives, of whom the majority were South African nationals visiting the church led by Prophet TB Joshua.
Groenewald’s daughter was among those who lost their lives in the incident. Ten years on, her pain remains palpable. In recalling the long, agonising period following the event, Groenewald lamented the distress of not being able to bid proper farewell to her deceased daughter. It was not until November 16 of that year that the bodies of the South African victims were repatriated back to their homeland.
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the Lagos State Government held the church responsible for the tragedy, attributing the collapse to the unauthorised construction of additional floors on the building.
This tragedy has left a lingering cloud of grief over the victims’ families. As in the case of Groenewald, the traumatic episode has been indelibly etched in their memories, serving as a harsh reminder of the dear ones they lost on that unfortunate day.
In the face of such bereavement, questions are raised about the oversight of construction standards in large public edifices, particularly those of religious institutions. This incident underscores the need for officials to enforce stringent architectural norms to ensure that such a disaster does not recur in the future.
Even as we recount the heavy toll this event unceremoniously claimed ten years ago, it serves as a stark call for better regulation and the upholding of safety standards. For families like Groenewald’s, it is the only way to find solace in knowing that their losses may prevent another tragedy from occurring.
