Two years ago, what was meant to be a pens down celebration for the young teenagers ended up in a tragedy, where twenty-one children died at the Enyobeni tavern based in East London.
With parents reminded daily about the loss of their children, the tavern owners find themselves back in court on the count that they sold alcohol to underage children.
According to reports, tavern owners Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu, were held accountable for the tragic deaths of the children all aged between 13 and 17.
Many residents said that it was not the first time that this couple hosted underage children and that they complained about there being a tavern in the area.
As reported by IOL, East London Magistrate Kevin von Bratt ruled that Sinemihlali Haka, a 17-year-old at the time of the incident, was the only person who could condemn the tarvern owners based on the evidence provided by the state.
Throughout the trial Sinemihlali testified that no efforts were made regarding his age and that he had been allowed access to the establishment before the incident.
With the Magistrate still questioning whether these underaged children were sold alcohol or not he said,“I’m probably not alone in suspecting that a lot of young children might have been sold alcohol there.”
He added,”But while the evidence is strongly suggestive, I don’t think it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that any other minor was sold alcohol. Out of the 21 deceased patrons, only the names of 10 people were written on the charge sheet.”
As parent of deceased child Bongo Ncandana detailed the noises that came from the tavern that fateful night, he told news publication The Citizen that fellow community members had suspicions that alcohol was been sold to minors but when they would bring these issues forward in meetings they would be vindicated and that for the longest of times the owners didn’t take responsibility for what happened that night.
Court proceedings are currently underway today.
Also see: ‘I am grateful I came out alive’ – Natasha Thahane
