Enyobeni Tavern Owner Gets Liquor Licence Revoked and Faces Criminal Charges After 21 Kids Mysteriously Died

Enyobeni Tavern Owner Gets Liquor Licence Revoked and Faces Criminal Charges After 21 Kids Mysteriously Died

  • The Eastern Cape Liquor Board will be pursuing criminal charges against Enyobeni tavern's owner after more than 20 children died at his East London establishment
  • The Liquor Board has also taken away the owner's liquor licence for serving alcohol to teenagers under the legal age
  • The parents of the minors are being blamed for the deaths of the children, with many South Africans saying they should have protected their kids

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EAST LONDON - The Eastern Cape Liquor Board intends to lay criminal charges against the Enyobeni tavern owner following the deaths of at least 21 teenagers at his tavern on Sunday morning, 26 June.

The Liquor Board’s CEO Dr Nombuyiselo Makala says the tavern owner contravened the liquor act by serving alcohol to minors. As a result, his liquor licence has been revoked.

Read also

Bodies of 5 minors still unidentified following Enyobeni tavern tragedy, police say no arrests have been made

Eastern Cape liquor board, lay charges, Enyobeni tavern owner, at least 17 kids killed, owner devastated
More than 17 minors died under suspicious circumstances after partying at a tavern in East London over the weekend. Images: STR/AFP
Source: Getty Images

According to SABC News, the Liquor Board's sentiments are also shared by the National Liquor Traders convener Lucky Ntimane, who says the responsibility for the deaths of the minors lies solely on the Enyobeni tavern owner.

"These incidents happen way after the closing hours of such a tavern, also that there were underage children in that establishment, this should never have happened. This tavern should be closed," says Ntimane.

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Initial speculation surrounding the deaths indicated that minors died as a result of being trampled on during a stampede inside the tavern, however, it was noted that there was no physical evidence on the bodies to suggest that, according to TimesLIVE.

Reports indicate that 17 minors died inside the tavern while the rest died at the hospital. The youngest child who died at the tavern was 13 years old.

Read also

Enyobeni tavern owner allegedly apologises to families of 21 teens who died under mysterious circumstances

South Africans angered by the deaths of minors

Many South Africans are blaming the parents of the minors for the deaths of their children. They feel the parents should have done more to protect their kids.

Here are some comments below:

@Msawuti said:

"My friend refused his son to go for a sleepover at a friend's place. Apparently, their plan was to go to #EnyobeniTavern. The friend unfortunately is now one of the deceased."

@thegirlnXtdoor5 said:

"Yaz a boring lifestyle will literally save you from a lot of things #EnyobeniTavern"

@nandnz said:

"At the beginning of the month, woke tweeps were bashing a mother who fetched her child at a club around midnight. Today, 22 school kids died in a tavern at Enyobeni in East London. Our parents know what’s best for us, not libertarians in social media, nobody foresaw this but if..."

Read also

East London tavern survivor recalls horrific ordeal, police investigate inquest into the deaths of 21 teens

Tavern owner where at least 22 people died shattered at the loss of life, promises to cooperate with police

Briefly News previously reported that the Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park in East London was a tragic scene on Sunday morning as at least 17 people had mysteriously died.

The owner of the tavern has been completely shattered by the event and has no idea what happened or what could have caused the incident.

He promised to cooperate completely with the investigation. Authorities have advised him to close his business until the investigation is concluded.

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Lebogang Mashego avatar

Lebogang Mashego (Current Affairs HOD) Lebogang Mashego runs the Current Affairs desk. She joined the Briefly News team in 2021. She has 6 years of experience in the journalism field. Her journalism career started while studying at Rhodes University, where she worked for the Oppidan Press for 3 years. She worked as a lifestyle writer and editor at W24 and Opera News. She graduated with a BA degree majoring in Journalism and Media Studies in 2017. She's a recipient of the INMA Elevate Scholarship. Email: lebogang.mashego@briefly.co.za