Final toxicology reports suggests that the 21 youngsters who died at Enyobeni Tavern in East London, Eastern Cape on 26 June 2022 suffocated to death due to overcrowding, according to parents of the victims.
Also read: Enyobeni tavern tragedy update: Methanol and Carbon Monoxide found
EWN reports that while Eastern Cape health department officials declined to publicly disclose the cause of death of the 21 youngsters, one of the victim’s parents revealed that the cause of death was suffocation.
Xolile Malangeni, father of Esinako Sanarhana, was the first of the 21 parents to be told of the cause of death by the health officials on Thursday.
In speaking to John Perlman, Malangeni said he was frustrated and devastated with the manner in which the case had been dealt with and the conflicting reports given to the parents about the deaths of their children.
Parents of the victims are being called in one by one, to inform them about the results, at the Buffalo City District Offices in East London. Parents have been refused any written documentation or further explanation into the incident.
According to the families, they feel they have been left with more questions than answers and will be seeking legal opinion.
The tavern owner and two staff members has since been charged with contravention of the Liquor Act, including selling or supplying and permitting employees and agents to sell or supply or deliver intoxicating liquor to underage persons, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The owner is due to appear in court on Friday for a pre-trial hearing. It is not yet clear if additional charges will be added.
The 21 teenagers, 12 girls and nine boys – aged between 13 and 17 – tragically lost their lives on 26 June. Their deaths caused an outpouring of public shock, grief, and an urgent cry for the legal drinking age to be increased from 18 to 21 due to our country’s reputation for teenage and binge drinking, reports BBC News.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery