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At least 67 South Africans were killed when a church hostel belonging to Nigerian TV evangelist TB Joshua collapsed in Lagos last week, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has said. It is not clear how many people died overall, as the previous death toll was put at 60. It is the deadliest incident involving South Africans abroad "in our recent history", Mr Zuma said. Mr Joshua, one of Nigeria's best-known evangelists, is popular across Africa. Nigerian authorities are often reluctant to release death tolls. The multi-story building served as a guesthouse on the campus of the televangelist's Synagogue, Church of All Nations. On Tuesday, however, a rescue official said the likeliest cause of the building's collapse was the construction of additional storeys without reinforcing the foundations. At least 130 people, including many foreigners, were pulled out of the rubble. Officials says members of the church at first prevented emergency workers from participating in the rescue. It is believed that at least five South African church tour groups were visiting the church at the time of the collapse. "This is a particularly difficult time for South Africa. Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country," Mr Zuma said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues that have lost their loved ones in this heart-breaking tragedy. The whole nation shares the pain of the mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who have lost their loved ones. We are all in grief." Mr Joshua, who is also known as the "Prophet", regularly preaches to large crowds at a mega-church in Lagos's Ikotun district. His followers in Nigeria and abroad believe he has the gifts of healing and prophecy.