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Khathutshelo Ramovha says he will continue to serve God.

Ramovha survives tragedy at TB Joshua’s synagogue

 

A South African author of Christian literature, Mr Khathutshelo Ramovha (27), survived the tragedy that hit the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), when the headquarters’ building collapsed on 12 September. According to reports, 84 people were killed in the incident.

The SCOAN, in Nigeria, is headed by its founder, preacher TB Joshua.

Author of He Is More Than Just a God, Ramovha spent 13 haunting hours trapped in the rubble before rescuers could find and lead him out through a tunnel which they had dug.

He hails from Tshirolwe in Nzhelele north of the Soutpansberg

“I arrived at the church’s residence for foreign guests on 9 September and spent two days attending spiritual lectures,” he recounted. “The lectures were all about having faith and being prepared for any kind of challenges and hardships.”

After Friday’s lecture, Ramovha and other guests went to the dining hall for lunch. He collected his plate of fish, pap and salad and came to sit down at a table. Before he could lift up a spoonful of pap to his mouth, he heard the sound of frightened voices from all sides of the dinning hall.

“The spoon fell from my fingers as I saw the building and the surface on which I was standing, collapse,” he said. “I can’t forget the look on believers’ terrified faces, and their screams are still fresh in my ears.”

Ramovha passed out. He regained consciousness after some time, enclosed underneath the rubble and masonry.

“It was dark and hot, and I couldn’t see any other person around me,” he said. “I was trapped inside a 'bubble' of debris, and I heard voices cry out around me. Someone cried about his hand, foot or arm, while another cried about her neck. I was not hurt by any of the rubble, though.”

The temperature was around 45º C. “The hot temperature was getting the better of me, draining me of all strength and weakening my system,” he said. “I had never felt so lost in my life. I whispered the name ‘Jesus’ several times and started feeling oxygen rushing in and thought there was a hole through which I could get out. I believe this oxygen supply was a miracle.”

He crawled out of the tunnel that the rescuers had dug and saw light for the first time after 13 hours of frustration and pain. “There were many of us who survived and we were all taken to hospital,” he said.

After spending a night in hospital, he was discharged and spent the rest of Saturday, Sunday and Monday attending church. “I boarded my flight on Tuesday and got home on Wednesday,” he said. “Now my duty is to testify about my survival.”

Ramovha sent his condolences to the families of all the people who died when the building collapsed. “I take solace in the fact that those people didn’t die while being involved in something stupid; they were working for God,” he said.

The Presidency issued a statement on 16 September, following the tragedy, in which it said at least 67 South Africans had died in the tragedy. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues who have lost their loved ones in this heartbreaking tragedy,” said Pres Jacob Zuma. “The whole nation shares the pain of the mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who have lost their loved ones. We are all in grief.”

News - Date: 25 September 2014

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Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]

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