South African youths under the umbrella of the African National Congress Youth League have called on President Jacob Zuma not to issue a visa to the General Overseer of the Synagogue of All Nations, Pastor Temitope Joshua. Joshua had expressed on Sunday his desire to visit South Africa to commiserate with the families of 84 citizens of the country who lost their lives when a building of the church collapsed in Lagos on September 12. About 115 people died in the tragedy and Joshua had described those who lost their lives as martyrs to the consternation of South Africans.



The spokesperson for the ANC Youth League, Bandile Masuku, said, "B Joshua should not be allowed to come to South Africa until we know what happened to our fellow countrymen at his church. “We will make sure we engage with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to make sure they do not issue him with a South African visa."

 A South African Newspaper had earlier reported that about 115 people, including 84 South Africans, were killed and dozens trapped when the multi-storey guesthouse attached to the church collapsed. About 350 South Africans were said to be visiting the church in the Ikotun neighbourhood of Lagos, at the time.