Pretoria - Government will on Sunday host a formal reception ceremony at the Air Force Base Waterkloof to receive the mortal remains of South Africans who died when a guesthouse collapsed in Nigeria in September.
According to a statement by the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on the Nigeria tragedy, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address on behalf of government and the People of South Africa.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 3pm.
Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team appointed by President Jacob Zuma to oversee South African government efforts to repatriate South Africans from Nigeria, will lead the official reception ceremony.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Saturday night, the aircraft transporting the repatriation team as well as other government officials is scheduled to land at the Air Force Base Waterkloof at around 5:45am.
The Antonov cargo aircraft that is transporting the mortal remains will arrive not earlier than 6:15am.
The families of the victims will be part of the ceremony. Through the Department of Social Development, the families were transported to Pretoria on Saturday.
Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini held a meeting with families earlier this evening to give them information on how government will provide continuous support to the families.
The Department of Home Affairs has also explained the issuing of death certificates to the families and the Department of Health has briefed them on the processes that will be followed in the transportation of mortal remains from Pretoria to the different provinces.
The Inter-Ministerial Task team warned that the event on Sunday is strictly per invitation. No person without formal accreditation will be allowed to enter the Air Force Base Waterkloof.
Road closures
Motorists are warned of partial street closures that will be implemented on Sunday from 4am until the completion of the official reception ceremony. They are advised to use alternative routes during this period.
The following streets will be affected:
- Trichardt road from Kruger Avenue to Union Avenue
- Solomon Mahlangu road from R21 to Veldpou street
The task team said Tshwane Metro Police will be deployed in the affected areas.
Private funerals
According the Inter-Ministerial Task Team, at the end of the formal reception ceremony, the mortal remains will be transported to the closest government Forensic Pathology Services mortuaries in the different provinces.
The mortal remains will be transported to the government mortuary closest to the place of burial where they will be received by their next-of-kin.
Individual families will proceed with their own private funeral arrangements.
Government discourages viewing of remains
“Government reiterates the request for families not to view the mortal remains. The request is made out of concern for secondary trauma for the families as well as public health considerations,” said the task team.
Government will deploy social workers to continue to provide psychosocial support to the affected families. – SAnews.gov.za
