A South African rescue team has flown to Nigeria to help locate missing South Africans believed to have been inside a church hostel when it collapsed last week in Lagos.
The team will be able to sign death certificates and check that survivors are getting adequate treatment.
Of the 80 confirmed deaths, at least 67 were from South Africa.
They had gone to Nigeria to attend a gathering organised by famous Nigerian TV evangelist TB Joshua.
Mr Joshua, referred to by his followers as a “prophet” is the founder of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) church ministry, which is popular across Africa and parts of the world.
More than 130 people survived, including one South African woman who was pulled from the rubble on Monday – three days after the building collapsed.
South Africa’s International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has said 20 South Africans are currently being treated in Nigerian hospitals after the collapse.
The multi-story building which collapsed served as a guesthouse on Mr Joshua’s campus.
However, rescue officials say the likeliest cause of the building’s collapse was the construction of additional storeys without reinforcing the foundations.
Rescue workers says members of the church at first prevented emergency workers from participating in the rescue.
But SCOAN denied the accusations in a statement posted on its Facebook account overnight.
“It is very sad that inaccurate reports are coming from some quarters that we are not co-operating with the rescue teams and other agencies in collating information and providing assistance on the incident,” it said.
“We want to categorically state that the church has provided assistance when and where required and continues to do so – good Christians are good citizens.
“The church views this tragedy as part of an attack on The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and in particular, Prophet TB Joshua. In due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy,” it continued.
It is believed that at least five South African church tour groups were visiting the church at the time of the collapse.
