By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South African authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 17 patrons found inside a popular township tavern in East London, police officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park.
Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said police were alerted by members of the public to the incident at Scenery Park, about three kms from the city centre.
“The circumstances under which they died are under investigation,” Kinana said, adding it was too early to determine the cause of death of the young adults aged between 18-20 years.
There is speculation that patrons were either exposed to some form of poison or an incident that resulted in a large number being injured and killed in a stampede. It’s understood bodies are lying strewn across tables, chairs and on the floor at the club – with no obvious signs of injury.
Enyobeni Tarven, in East London Scenery Park pic.twitter.com/uWXFZRklob
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The MEC for Community of Safety in the Eastern Cape, Weziwe Tikana Gxothiwe, requested that families assist in identifying those killed at Enyobeni Tavern.
Tikana Gxothiwe said: We know that there are parents that have not seen their children. We request that all the parents who have missing children report to Woodbrook mortuary.
She said the families would be provided with transport to the mortuary.
Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Siyanda Manana earlier said that the Forensics Pathology Teams and EMS Teams are at the scene.
“We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death. The deceased have been taken to state mortuaries,” Manana added.