Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's address during the ceremony to receive the remains of South Africans who perished in Nigeria, Waterkloof Airforce Base, November 16 2014

Director of Ceremonies,
Members of bereaved families,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Ministers of religion,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Friends and colleagues,
Fellow South Africans,

This is a sombre moment for the people of South Africa.

The people who perished in that tragic event in Lagos, Nigeria on 12 September were not mere statistics.

These were people who lived among us. They are South Africans.

They are a part of us.

These people were our colleagues and friends.

They went to church with us. We worshipped with them.

They were people who had hopes and dreams for their children.

They were our compatriots and fellow South Africans.

They were beloved wives, husbands, sons and daughters. They were our brothers and sisters.

To the bereaved, we wish to say that, as a nation as a people, we share in your grief and sorrow.

We understand that the loss you have suffered remains unbearable and incalculable.

Despite this, it is our hope that you will draw inspiration from the knowledge that the entire South African nation shares in your bereavement.

Since that fateful day two months ago, all South Africans have rallied to support the bereaved and injured.

President Jacob Zuma and the government, we have taken every step to ensure the remains of those who lost their lives are returned home.

Soon after the occurrence of the tragedy we dispatched teams of experts to assist in the identification of those who passed away.

We sent a team of government officials led by Minister Jeff Radebe to engage with Nigerian authorities to facilitate the return of their remains.

We will intensify our efforts to ensure the remains that are still in Nigeria are brought home without undue delay.

Today's ceremony marks the first step towards the healing of your pain and the sorrow of a nation.

We express the hope that with the return of the remains of the departed, their souls may rest in eternal peace.

We are pleased that they will rest in peace in the land of their birth.

That they may rest in peace in the land of their forebears and among their families and relatives and fellow South Africans.

The collective thoughts and prayers of the entire nation reach out to the bereaved families as you prepare to lay to rest the remains of your beloved ones in various parts of our country.

The entire nation is with you at this traumatic moment.

The South African nation stands ready to offer a hand in this hour of need.

Master of ceremonies and fellow South Africans,

On behalf of President Jacob Zuma, the government and people of our country, we take this opportunity to thank faith based formations and other sectors of our society who have provided spiritual, emotional and material support to members of the bereaved families.

We extend our gratitude to all nations of the world who have expressed their condolences to the government and people of our country following the death of our compatriots.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the people of Nigeria and South Africa have been united in loss and sorrow.

This tragedy has reinforced the warm and fraternal relations between our two countries.

We thank the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, for their support and cooperation.

We thank Minister Radebe, Director General in the Presidency Dr Cassius Lubisi and the many teams of people who have worked hard over many days to ensure that the injured receive appropriate care and that the remains of all South Africans who passed away are returned home.

This is indeed a sombre moment for our nation.

This tragedy has united us in grief.

It has reminded us of our shared humanity.

May the souls of all those who perished rest in eternal peace.

I thank you.

Issued by The Presidency, November 16 2014

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