Zuma: 67 South Africans dead in Nigeria church collapse

President Zuma of South Africa.

Sixty-seven South Africans have died in a building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Nigeria, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

Sixty-seven South Africans have been killed in a building collapse that occurred at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Nigeria,  President Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Tuesday.

Scores more sustained injuries when the multi-storey guesthouse belonging to the church collapsed on Friday. 

“This is a particularly difficult time for South Africa. Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country,” said Zuma. 

“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues that have lost their loved ones in this heart-breaking tragedy. 

“The whole nation shares the pain of the mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who have lost their loved ones.

We are all in grief,” he said. 

On Tuesday evening, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation tweeted that the government struggled to gather information earlier.