Investigations continue after 21 teens die in tavern
South African police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mysterious deaths of 21 people in a local tavern, as survivors describe trying to escape the jam-packed premises.
Officials have ruled out a stampede as the cause of the deaths at Enyobeni Tavern in the town of East London, a provincial safety official told AFP news agency, as there were “no visible wounds”.
Seventeen people died inside the bar, with another four later dying in hospital.
Police minister Bheki Cele has said the youngest victim was just 13 years old, with the remaining victims ranging in age from 13-17 - though a detailed list of the victims hasn’t been produced yet, per the BBC.
Unathi Binqose, a government official on safety, told the AAP that it is suspected that the cause of their deaths may have been in something they ate, drank, or inhaled while in the tavern.
“It has never happened that our country loses children in this manner,” Elleck Nchabeleng, the chair of the parliamentary committee on education and technology, sports, arts and culture, said.
It has been reported that those who went to the tavern were celebrating the end of school exams.
Sinovuyo Monyane, one of the survivors who was hired to promote an alcohol brand, said she was still “confused” about what happened but felt lucky to be alive.
“We tried moving through the crowd, shouting, ‘Please let us through,’ and others were shouting, ‘We are dying, guys,’ and ‘We are suffocating’ and ‘There are people who can’t breathe’,” she told AFP.
She later regained consciousness after water was sprayed on her.
“I could have died,” the 19-year-old said.
“I saw two people, they died.”
Luhlemela Ulana, a resident DJ who was also celebrating his birthday that night, said a rush of revellers forced their way into the already-packed venue.
Though he turned off the music to discourage the revellers, it was to no avail.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families.
“This tragedy is made even more grave by its occurrence during Youth Month - a time during which we celebrate young people, advocate and advance opportunities for improved socio-economic conditions for the youth of our nation,” he wrote on Twitter.
Image: Twitter