South Africans should pray for the successful repatriation of the remains of the 85 people who died when a church building collapsed in Nigeria, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said on Thursday.

"I appeal for special prayers for the families [of those] who have died, who have had to wait far too long for this moment," he said in a statement.

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said on Tuesday the government was ready to repatriate at the weekend.

A guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church Of All Nations in Lagos, headed by preacher TB Joshua, collapsed on September 12, killing 116 people.

They included 81 South Africans and three Zimbabweans and one Democratic Republic of Congo national using SA travel papers.

"We pray godspeed for the families as they receive the remains of their loved ones and thank the South African government for all they have done to resolve the problems in Lagos which prevented repatriation earlier," Makgoba said.