By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences and concern at the death of 22 teenagers at a tavern in Scenery Park, East London, in the early hours of Sunday.
While the President awaits more information on the incident, his thoughts are with the families who have lost children, as well as families who are awaiting confirmation of how their children may have been affected, the Presidency said in a statement.
The Presidency said the President is concerned about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off limits to persons under the age of 18.
The President expects the law to take its course following investigations into the tragedy.
“This tragedy is made even more grave by its occurrence during Youth Month – a time during which we celebrate young people, and advocate and advance opportunities for improved socio-economic conditions for the youth of our nation, “Ramaphosa said.
The management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has ordered a high-level investigation into the tragic deaths of 22 teenagers at a local tavern in Scenery Park, in East London.
This as on Sunday morning at about 4am, police from the Scenery Park Police Station received a report of the lifeless bodies of the teenagers at a local tavern in the area.
SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: “Upon arrival police found seventeen bodies inside the building. It was later established two more died at a local clinic, one died en-route to hospital and another died in hospital.”
Nine of the deceased are female while twelve of the deceased are male.
On Sunday, Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola led a high level delegation of crime scene experts to the scene. The team included bomb disposal technicians from the National Headquarters of the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management Component to complement and support the Eastern Cape Crime Scene Investigations teams.
The Minister engaged with local residents and with parents of the deceased at the local mortuary where the process to identify the victims was underway. He called on residents and affected families to allow police investigations to unfold.
“We have an experienced team that is complementing the provincial team to ensure that we get to the bottom of what has led to the death of these young people. We are also engaging other stakeholders to investigate issues of compliance to liquor legislation,” said the Minister.
Police have registered an inquest into the deaths.
Meanwhile the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) has revoked the license of a tavern owner in Scenery Park with immediate effect.
Spokesperson Pumlani Fani says criminal charges will also be laid against the license holder for the blatant contravention of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act which stipulates that no alcohol shall be sold to persons under the age of 18.
The ECLB has launched a toll-free number for community members to tip them off to liquor outlets that don’t comply with the law.
The number is 080 000 0420 or you can WhatsApp 076 403 6223.