ENYOBENI TAVERN – The cause of the deaths of 21 youths at a tavern in the Eastern Cape will hopefully be made clear to South Africans.
Since their children passed away in unexplained circumstances three weeks ago, families have been waiting for word from authorities.
The proprietor was then detained for selling alcohol to minors.
At the media conference, where it is hoped that specifics about what occurred will be revealed, representatives from the police, local government, and the health department are scheduled to appear.
There were celebrations at the Enyobeni Tavern, a shebeen in East London, Eastern Cape, during which 21 people died. No official causes of death have been made public.
The Enyobeni Tavern is a two-story structure tucked away in the middle of a crowded neighborhood in Scenery Park.
Residents in the area had complained about the building’s late operating hours and noise. The restaurant apparently supplied alcohol to children despite the fact that South Africa’s legal drinking age is eighteen.
Siyakhangela Ngevu, the owner of the tavern, who wasn’t present when the fatalities took place, claimed that security had called him at about 1:00 a.m. to alert him of persons trying to force their way through a gate outside the tavern.
Promise Matinise, the tavern’s entertainment manager, said that they lacked the staff necessary to handle the crowds and that some customers tried to squeak past security. As bouncers struggled to keep the massive crowd under control, Matinise claimed to have seen people fall, and after learning that they had died, he allegedly phoned the business’s owner.
Before this tragedy, the location was crowded with young people, many of whom appeared to be underage, as seen in videos taken there.
A witness called to report many fatalities at the tavern, with the youngest victim being 13 years old. The bodies were discovered on the dance floor and on chairs, couches, and tables, but there were no evident signs of injuries.
The disaster claimed the lives of nine girls and twelve boys, all between the ages of 13 and 17.
