'Send Prophet TB Joshua to prison'

Self proclaimed prophet TB Joshua should be imprisoned for the collapse his multi-storey building in Nigeria, that killed 116 people - 84 of them South Africans, according to the family of one of the deceased.

This follows a coroner's ruling in Lagos, that Joshua should be prosecuted and his Church investigated.

The family of Patricia Mkhulisi, who was among those South Africans killed in the collapse, said they would find peace knowing that justice prevailed for what happened to their sister. Her brother, Lwandle Mkhulisi, said the fact that TB Joshua celebrated his birthday lavishly in the country last month "showed that he is not remorseful for what happened to our families".

"This prophet was supposed to ask families who are still mourning if they would be comfortable with his celebration, but instead, he shoved invites in our faces, telling us about how he is celebrating the lives of our loved ones." Mkhulisi said he was even shocked that the South African government allowed the celebration to proceed.

"I'm 100% in support of the coroner's recommendation, this man must be prosecuted, he thinks we could just forget what happened while the man of whom our beloved ones died in his watch, goes on with life just like that. Never, he said angrily.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe made his ruling in a coroner's inquest, to determine the circumstances of the collapse of a guesthouse for foreign followers of Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12, 2014, AFP reported.

"The church must be investigated and prosecuted for not obtaining the relevant approval before embarking on the construction of the building," he was quoted as saying. "The church was culpable because of criminal negligence resulting in the death of the victims."

When the coroner threatened Joshua with arrest last year, the holy man hit back saying that he was being sabotaged and then linked the collapse to a low aircraft seen flying close to the building before it collapsed.

However, Komolafe maintained in the hearing that the court had the power to summon whoever it deems necessary to assist it. "The counsel should advise the Prophet to come. The church is not on trial. It's not a matter of ego. Nobody is above the law. The court will be fair to all," Komolafe said at the time.

Komolafe dismissed Joshua's claims which recorded that the victims died from multiple injuries, including fractured skulls. He was quoted as saying: "The collapse was as a result of structural failures."

Komolafe also called for the prosecution of the two engineers used by the church. The family of another deceased Zazi Lwandle a 58-year-old father of six from Mpumalanga, said they were still grieving and they would rather focus on helping each other heal.

Lwandle's daughter, Kate said: "If it was an accident then we have to accept (it). If the court rules otherwise, then we would also accept whatever the ruling is but right now, we are not even aware of what is going on with that case. We just want to heal the hurt my father's passing has caused."

Government spokesperson Phumla Williams could be reached for comments at the time of going to print.