East London news

According to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, young people aged between 18 and 20 were among the dead. "The SAPS confirms that ...

"The SAPS confirms that about 17 were found dead inside the tavern in Scenery Park, in the area of East London. We received this report in the early hours of Sunday. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation as we speak,” Kinana said. Siyanda Manana added, "We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death." Police are investigating the deaths of at least 17 people found inside the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London in the early hours of Sunday, June 26.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning at Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park but the cause of death is unknown at this stage.

It's understood bodies are lying strewn across tables, chairs and on the floor at the club - with no obvious signs of injury. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning at Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park, but the The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning at Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park but the cause of death is unknown at this stage.

The tragic deaths of approximately 20 young revellers inside an East London tavern remain a mystery to investigators.

Police are at the scene and talking to other witnesses, as law enforcement authorities desperately scramble to make sense of this tragedy. One eyewitness, who’s relative relayed the details to Algoa FM, claimed that pepper spray was deployed. The cause of these deaths is yet to be established, but speculation remains rife.

“We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death,” said health department spokesperson Siyanda Manana.

The deceased have been taken to state mortuaries,” Manana added. “However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death,” Ndevu added. “We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death.

South African authorities were on Sunday investigating the deaths of at least 17 people at a tavern in East London.

Police launch an investigation into the death of 22 patrons at a popular township tavern close to East London city.

“It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead,” Binqose told the AFP news agency by telephone. “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 and 20 years. “We are going to immediately be embarking on autopsies so we can know the probable cause of death,” he told Reuters news agency as forensic personnel continued their work at the cordoned-off site.

Eastern Cape police are investigating the deaths of 17 people at a local tavern in East London.

Emergency services were called in the early hours of Sunday to the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, on the edge of East London, Eastern Cape province.

We are talking 22 bodies right now." Authorities say they are going to carry out post mortems as soon as possible. Emergency services were called in the early hours of Sunday to the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, on the edge of East London, Eastern Cape province.

Emergency services were scrambled to the Enyobeni Tavern, in the Scenery Park township, early on Sunday morning.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

The cause of death is unknown. Local media say bodies lay inside the Enyobeni Tavern as if they had collapsed, but there were no obvious injuries on the victims ...

You can also get in touch in the following ways: Were you in the area? The cause of death is unknown.

The bodies will be transported to state mortuaries where relatives are expected to help identify victims.

Earlier Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said police were alerted by members of the public to the incident at Scenery Park, about two miles from the city center. “We are talking 22 bodies right now,” Manana added.

At least 20 people have died following a tragic incident at Enyobeni Tavern in East London. · Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said 17 people had died at the ...

The deceased have been taken to state mortuaries." We want to hear your views on the news. We request that all the parents who have missing children report to Woodbrook mortuary." We condemn this unlimited consumption of liquor." We want a tight case so that we get everyone accountable for this." He said they believed the victims were aged between 18 and 20.

State broadcaster SABC reported the deaths resulted from a possible stampede, but was scant on details as the exact cause of death remained unknown. The bodies ...

“Everyone wants it closed down because they sell alcohol to under-age children. Ramaphosa said in a statement the law must take its course once investigations conclude. “We have brought in a special forensic team from the police in Pretoria. They are a top team that will tell us if it was poison but we need to come back to this area to see what is happening in the shebeens and not only come back once they have killed our kids,” Cele said.

Police in southern city of East London launch investigation and officials rule out stampede.

“We need to check if they adhere to the laws but that is on us as police to ensure this happens. Ramaphosa said in a statement the law must take its course once investigations conclude. Overstretched police forces and local government officials often turn a blind eye to such law-breaking, sometimes in return for bribes. The exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear. “Everyone wants it closed down because they sell alcohol to underage children. Local residents raised the alarm at around 4am, officials said.

Eastern Cape police have opened an investigation following the tragic deaths of 21 teenagers at a tavern in East London.

"Upon arrival, police found 17 bodies inside the building. "The Minister of Police engaged with local residents and with parents of the deceased at the local mortuary where the process to identify the victims was underway," she said. - The youngest victim was 13 years old.

The South African Police Service said they were found dead inside a local tavern in Scenery Park in the area of East London.

"We do not want to make any speculation at this stage as our investigations are continuing." "We do not want to make any speculation at this stage as our investigations are continuing." The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation," Kinana said.

Police confirmed that at least 20 people have died after tragedy struck the Enyobeni Tavern in East London, with two people in serious condition in ...

According to police, 17 people died at the scene, and three later died in hospital. The deceased have been taken to state mortuaries," Manana added. "We are shocked and saddened by this devastating incident regarding the untimely passing of these young people, who attended a birthday party at the tavern. 10h ago but police stuck to their guns. You've heard the story that they are young but when you see them you realise that it's a disaster.” 10h ago The 17 bodies discovered at Enyobeni Tavern in East London have been taken to various state mortuaries, the Eastern Cape Department of Health has said. 10h ago At least 20 people have been confirmed dead, while two more are in a critical condition in hospital, in the wake of a tragedy at Enyobeni Tavern in East London. 10h ago Police minister Bheki Cele has deployed a top forensic and pathology team from Pretoria to investigate what led to the death of 20 people at Enyobeni Tavern in the Eastern Cape.

Forensic pathologists say initial results indicate that the 21 young people — aged between 14 and 20 — who died at a party in East London at the weekend ...

He held parents to account and questioned why they had allowed their children to be out late on a Saturday night. They said the tavern had been packed with people there to celebrate a popular DJ’s birthday, the dropping of mask regulations and the end of exams. The President expects the law to take its course following investigations into the tragedy.” Forensic pathologists say initial results indicate that the 21 young people — aged between 14 and 20 — who died at a party in East London at the weekend inhaled or ingested something that led to their deaths. Witnesses originally told authorities that the deaths were caused by a stampede, but this has been ruled out. There were no signs of visible injuries.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that the 21 young people whose bodies were found at an East London tavern did not die from natural causes.

"The theory of stampede is fading off as there are other theories that I imagine but it looks like those scientific theories. What he has confirmed is that it's not a natural death that's taken place." He’s described the crime scene as terrible.

As the families of the 21 children who died in an East London tavern in the early hours of Sunday battled to process the enormity of the tragedy, ...

As the families of the 21 children who died in an East London tavern in the early hours of Sunday battled to process the enormity of the tragedy, police investigators spent hours combing the scene, trying to piece together the cause of their deaths. Bodies of 21 children taken for toxicology tests as high-level team begins investigation Grim search for clues at East London tavern of death

At least 21 teenagers died over the weekend after a night out at the Eyobeni tavern in Scenery Park, East London, officials said on Sunday.

He was called to the scene after 1am as there were “too many people. This was a humble child, respectful,” said the grieving mother, Ntombizonke Mgangala, standing next to her husband outside the morgue. People consume 28.9 litres of pure alcohol per capita a year, the fifth highest consumption rate in the world, Businesstech reported. The provincial government of Eastern Cape said eight girls and 13 boys had died at the tavern. When you are told they are 13 years, 14 years and you go there and you see them. “They are pretty young.

Cape Town - Police Minister Bheki Cele has declared war on liquor outlets that do not comply with the law following the shocking death of 21 teenagers at ...

“We have looked at this and indeed the liquor outlet does have a legitimate liquor license. “We call on parents and legal guardians not to abdicate their responsibility to their children or minor children entrusted in their care. The call is on the community to say we can’t allow our kids to die,” he said. We are saddened by the loss of young lives, future leaders of our country, future breadwinners for their families, and for all the investments made by their families in them that now have evaporated in an instant,” he said. “We need to check if they adhere to the laws but that is on us as police to ensure this happens. Nine of the deceased are female while twelve of the deceased are male.

Enyobeni tavern owner Siyakhangela Ndevu said that he was still shocked by what happened at his business premises.

Enyobeni tavern owner Siyakhangela Ndevu said that he was still shocked by what happened at his business premises. Enyobeni tavern owner Siyakhangela Ndevu said that he was still shocked by what happened at his business premises. He said that he was looking for answers.

Police say the investigation team is still on site piecing together the events leading up to the tragedy. “The SAPS requests to be given sufficient space and ...

These regulations of the EC say there must be a structural floor plan to be used for liquor trading clearly showing each room, all doors and windows and means of external and internal communication. Proof of approval by the relevant local municipality – didn’t the municipality give permission for this shebeen?” We did not know what to do so we could not control the commotion a lot of people arrived here from other places and they were drunk. We tried to control it so we do not know what happened because we’ve always hosted events here we did not expect people to die.” “The SAPS requests to be given sufficient space and time to conclude the investigation. Police say the investigation team is still on site piecing together the events leading up to the tragedy.

The former president has called for no stone to be left unturned in investigating what transpired.

"The death of these young people, I don't know what they were doing in a tavern and then they died and I don't know how they died. Mbeki has called for no stone to be left unturned in investigating what transpired. The former president has called for no stone to be left unturned in investigating what transpired.

On Sunday, 21 young people died at Enyobeni tavern in East London with the youngest victim being 13 years old.

“With the use of nyaope ranking high across our townships and a high rate of school drop-outs, schoolgoing children have become prime clients for taverns and shebeens operating near schools.” Upon Ngevu’s arrival, he noted that there were scores of “underage people” who were allowed access to the venue. He also held parents to account and questioned why they had allowed their young children to be out late on a Saturday night.

Five bodies from the East London tavern tragedy have not yet been identified, the Eastern Cape health department said on Monday.

Five bodies from the East London tavern tragedy have not yet been identified, the Eastern Cape health department said on Monday... Five bodies from the East London tavern tragedy have not yet been identified, the Eastern Cape health department said on Monday... Five East London tavern victims still not identified

A 17-year-old who survived the Enyobeni tavern tragedy says she “fainted for three hours and when I woke up I could hear a man saying I must be dumped among ...

“The lady asked my age and I told her. She asked me how I got to know about the event and I told her I saw a trending post on social media. Bouncers allegedly closed the door after the gas-like substance was sprayed. People started collapsing and the situation became uncontrollable. “I only woke after three hours. There were hundreds of people in a limited space.

Five bodies from the East London tavern tragedy have not yet been identified, the Eastern Cape health department said on Monday. Twenty-one young patrons, ...

The youngest victim at the Enyobeni Tavern in the city of East London was 13, police said.

Matinise said he contacted the establishment’s owner once he realized some of the victims were not breathing. “We are going to immediately be embarking on autopsies so we can know the probable cause of death,” he said. “When you look at their faces, you realize that we are dealing with kids,” Cele said.

A 17-year-old who survived the Enyobeni tavern tragedy says she “fainted for three hours and when I woke up I could hear a man saying I must be dumped among ...

She asked me how I got to know about the event and I told her I saw a trending post on social media. “The lady asked my age and I told her. Bouncers allegedly closed the door after the gas-like substance was sprayed.

A survivor has told how a dying victim begged her to save her life as young patrons made their way out of the Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park, East London, ...

We appeal to people to stop publishing pictures of the deceased before their next of kin are notified. “It was very wrong to circulate pictures of people who are declared dead. We appeal to people to stop publishing pictures of the deceased before their next of kin are notifiedBuffalo City community policing forum chair Ludumo Salman He said one family saw their loved ones in the pictures posted on social media. “We are shocked by this [incident],” Mtima said. “I could see she was drawing her last breath.

Twelve boys and nine girls were confirmed dead at the Enyobeni Tavern. The youngest victim was 13 years old.

"Come on, the 13-year-old dies at 06:00 in the morning, 05:00 or 04:00, [and] you are asking where the police are? Really? Really? A 13-year-old dies in a shebeen at 04:00 in the morning?" Cele said when he spoke to the community about the incident on Sunday, they were "heavy" on police, asking where they were when the partygoers were dying.

While police are still investigating the case, some of the attendees who survived have spoken out – adding some further context to the events.

Guests were told that the smell was pepper spray. Monyane was hired to promote alcohol at the event, and spoke to AFP to add her experience to the murky waters of the story. The source of the deaths at Enyobeni tavern is shrouded in speculation.