South Africa - At least 20 die at a township pub in East London; Parents told that official cause of death is 'suffocation'

[Pathfinder]

At least 20 die in South African club; cause still unknown

By Rédaction Africanews with AFP
Last updated: 5 hours ago

At least 20 people that could be aged between 15 and 20 have died at a township pub in South Africa's southern city of East London.

On Sunday, mortuary vehicles were lined up in the residential area of Scenery Park.

A crowd of parents and onlookers had gathered outside the club looking for their loved ones.

The victims that were found showed no visible open wounds, prompting the provincial community and safety department official to rule out a stampede as the cause of death. Empty bottles of alcohol, wigs and even a pastel purple "Happy Birthday" sash lay strewn on the dusty street outside the double-storey Enyobeni Tavern, according to Unathi Binqose, a safety government official who arrived at the scene at dawn.

"Forensic (investigators) will take samples and test to see if there was any poisoning of any sort," he said.
...
https://www.africanews.com/2022/06/2...still-unknown/

[Pathfinder]

SOUTH AFRICA

UPDATE | Youngest victim in Eastern Cape tavern tragedy was 13 years old

26 June 2022 - 16:52
BY TIMESLIVE

...
Cele confirmed that all those who had died in the Eyobeni tavern in Scenery Park, East London, were minors — aged between 13 and 17.
...
The Daily Dispatch had earlier reported that initial speculation was that the patrons were exposed to some form of poison as none of the bodies had any visible injuries.

The publication reported that bodies were lying strewn across tables, chairs and on the floor.
...
Addressing community members outside the tavern earlier, Cele said a forensic team from Pretoria had been brought in to assist with investigations.
...
Brig Tembinkosi Kinana said they were informed of the incident at around 4am after a call from community members.

Seventeen people had been found dead inside the premises while the others died in hospital.
...
Of the 21 deceased, eight are girls while 13 are boys.
...

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-06-26-update-youngest-victim-in-eastern-cape-tavern-tragedy-was-13-years-old/

[Emily]

https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2022-06-26-parents-demand-access-to-bodies-of-22-found-dead-at-east-london-tavern/

Parents demand access to bodies of 22 found dead at East London tavern

By Bongani Fuzile, Luke Charter and Asanda Nini - 26 June 2022
...
Inside the venue, Daily Dispatch witnessed bodies lying bizarrely as if they collapsed to the floor suddenly while dancing or in the middle of a conversation, some seemingly in the social circles they were engaging with. Other bodies are slumped across chairs and lying over tables...

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-06-26-parents-must-also-take-accountability-says-cele-after-tavern-deaths-of-20-youngsters-in-east-london/

Parents must also take accountability, says Cele after tavern deaths of 20 youngsters in East London
26 June 2022 - 14:42 By TIMESLIVE


Police minister, Bheki Cele on Sunday did not hold back when he lashed out at community members of Scenery Park in East London where 20 young people died at the Enyobeni tavern in the early hours of the morning.
Cele said he had since learnt that the tavern was frequented by many minors.
He asked parents how they went to bed on Saturday night, not knowing where their children, some as young as 13, were.
...

“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.

“We need to check if they adhere to the laws but that is on us as police to ensure this happens. The call is on the government as the liquor board, the municipalities and the parents to ensure their kids are well. The call is on the community to say we can’t allow our kids to die,” Cele added...

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-06-26-owner-of-eastern-cape-tavern-devastated-after-inexplicable-death-of-17-patrons/

UPDATE | Owner of Eastern Cape tavern 'devastated' after inexplicable death of 20 patrons
Alex Patrick Reporter
26 June 2022 - 12:20

The owner of the Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park in East London where at least 20 patrons inexplicably died in the early hours of Sunday is reportedly devastated by the incident.

Eastern Cape community safety MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe said: “I have met with him and he is very much devastated. He said he cannot explain how the incident took place.”
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The victims who died were aged between 18 and 20 years, he said, scotching speculation the revellers were under-aged.
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While the earlier death toll had been placed at 22, she explained that 17 people had died on the scene while three others had died in hospital.

Two remained in hospital in a critical condition.

Families of the deceased were yet to identify them...

[Emily]

Sensitive photos. Much like photos published of Jonestown massacre.

https://www.ghanamma.com/za/2022/06/26/sensitive-see-photos-of-inside-enyobeni-tavern-where-22-people-died-this-morning/

[Emily]

https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other...ght/ar-AAYVuTl
I saw two people collapse, they died’: Enyobeni Tavern survivor relives horror night
AFP - 9h ago
Wandiswa Ntengento
...

"But the suspicion is that it is something either they ingested through drinks, food, or something they inhaled," Unathi Binqose, a government official on safety, told AFP.

New details also emerged Monday as survivors spoke of a strong and suffocating smell in the jam-packed double-storey building...


https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/sou...from-the-dead/
East London tavern survivor, 17, who lost two friends ‘rose from the dead’
27 June 2022 - 17:46 By Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

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 dead”.

The teenager recalled how she collapsed while unsuccessfully trying to resuscitate her two friends who eventually died in her arms at the tavern in Scenery Park, East London, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

She said some patrons attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when people started collapsing inside the tavern.

The teen, from Nompumelelo, alleged the drama unfolded when bouncers closed the door and a group of youngsters tried to get out while others forced their way inside.

“We were coming from upstairs aiming for the exit downstairs when pandemonium broke out,” the survivor said during a radio interview on Monday.
“More people coming from upstairs fell on us trying to force their way out through the exit downstairs while others were trying to get inside.”

The victim alleged a gas-like substance was sprayed when the chaos unfolded...

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news...wners-updates/
Enyobeni tavern CLOSED FOR GOOD – as five major offences identified
It was inevitable: The Enyobeni tavern has been shut down permanently, after 21 minors were found dead on the premises on Sunday morning.
by Tom Head
27-06-2022 16:53

[sharon sanders]

bump this

[Pathfinder]

New details emerge after mysterious deaths of 21 teens partying at nightclub in South Africa: "I was running out of breath"

JUNE 28, 2022 / 8:34 AM / CBS/AP

South African authorities were still seeking answers Tuesday, two days after 21 underage teenagers partying after the end of school exams died in a mysterious incident at a nightclub. But new details emerged as survivors spoke of a strong and suffocating smell in the jam-packed double-story building.

The bodies of many of the victims, the youngest a 13-year-old girl, were discovered by police lying on tables, slumped in chairs and couches, and sprawled on the dance floor of the club in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"They died as they danced," Police Minister Bheki Cele said. "They dance, fall, and die. Literally."

"Others would just feel dizzy, sleep on the sofa, (and) die. It tells you the story that they were all kids because somebody should have taken note."
...
Police spokeswoman Col. Athlenda Mathe said an investigation was ongoing and no cause of death had yet been established.

But Cele said forensic samples were being sent to an advanced toxicology laboratory in Cape Town, indicating that police were looking at the possibility that poison or a toxin was involved. Cele said the toxicology tests might take "a lot of time."
...

AFP contributed to this report.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/21-mysterious-deaths-teens-new-details-south-africa/

[Emily]

I hope they can offer counseling to the survivors.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-06-26-she-drew-her-last-breath-crying-for-help-el-tavern-survivor-relives-ordeal/

‘She drew her last breath crying for help’: tavern survivor relives ordeal

26 June 2022 - 21:52 By Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

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, in the early hours on Sunday.

“One of those who died there cried for help as I was rushing outside, saying, ‘Sisi, please help me, I’m dying,’” said the 24-year-old survivor.

“I could see she was drawing her last breath. She was lying down and people were all over her. It was like a horror movie.”

The survivor said people struggled to get out of the tavern when a stampede ensued.

“People were struggling to breathe because they [tavern staff] had sprayed something,” she said...

[sharon sanders]

bump this

[Emily]

https://twitter.com/Msawuti/status/1541343894339829763

Cosbee @Msawuti
This is my friend's son begging to go to a sleep over to a friend's place. I commend him for refusing him to go. His son could have been the statistics as the friend is no more from from the tragedy at #EnyobeniTavern.



3:53 AM · Jun 27, 2022·Twitter for Android

[Emily]

https://www.enca.com/news/chemical-p...nyobeni-deaths
Chemical poisoning caused Enyobeni deaths
Wednesday 29 June 2022 - 3:17pm

JOHANNESBURG - Chemical poisoning has been identified as the cause of death in the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.

Authorities are yet to identify the specific chemical inhaled.

Reporter says he was told that all victims had the same damage - they all died of the same poison. It was either sprayed or injected. Later he mentioned possible oral route, too. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjN4x06SdA0

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/s...use-of-deaths/
Enyobeni tavern toxicology results awaited, but generator fumes 'highly unlikely' as cause of deaths
By Sithandiwe Velaphi - 29 June 2022 - 12:46

The results of autopsies to determine the cause of the deaths of 21 young people at Enyobeni tavern in Scenery Park are likely to be made public before their mass funeral on Wednesday next week.
A senior official in the Eastern Cape department of health’s forensic pathology services said: “It is highly unlikely the cause of death was fumes from a generator. However, we are waiting for toxicology results.”

Another senior official said media reports identifying generator fumes as the cause of the deaths were “completely untrue”.
eNCA reported on Wednesday morning that the cause of the deaths was likely chemical poisoning and the generator had been ruled out as behind the tragedy...

[Emily]

https://www.enca.com/news/survivors-...-tragedy-speak

Tavern tragedy | Enyobeni survivors speak out
Thursday 30 June 2022 - 6:00pm

Subtitles from the video. Quotes are around statements by individual children.

"I was sprayed on the face by a female security with dreadlocks with something that made it difficult to breathe and it made me want to sleep immediately."

"People were falling to the ground and we couldn't move, there was chaos and as we were walking it felt like we were walking on air."

"There was a Facebook post that said on the 25th at Enyobeni there will be free alcohol and food. So we saw that and went to the event as we have no money.
Upon arrival we were each given Savannas that were already open and when you buy one bottle you get the second free. Shots food and alcohol was handed out for free."

"I am saddened as I lost a friend that lived in Sbunzana. He was helping another child and there was a stampede. He struggled to breathe and asked for help.
He died there."

"I went to the hospital but wasn't injured. I am devastated, I lost a friend that I studied with, He also died there.
I don't know who I am going to share a desk with when we return to school."

"We don't know what to say to parents as we went to our friends' homes to fetch them so we could go to Enyobeni, We are even scared to explain what happened on the day.
Parents want to know why we took their children and failed to come back home with them.
A friend of mine also went to check his girlfriend. He missed a step and fell. He wasn't drunk, but he died."

REPORTER: "You are 14 years old, how did you enter the tavern? How do you feel about the incident?"
(Description of crowded venue - too busy for guards to check everyone.)

"When they sprayed the pepper spray I was still inside the tavern before they closed the door."

REPORTER: "Did you see the chemical they sprayed?"

"I didn't see it. I just concluded by the smell that it was pepper spray."

REPORTER: " Were there others or old people?"

The subtitles are covered by ads at the end, but I think the boy reported that there were different areas in the venue for different groups.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-CYbVbf4Lw

[Emily]

https://sundayworld.co.za/breaking-news/enyobeni-tavern-deaths-caused-by-gaseous-explosion-expert/

Enyobeni tavern deaths caused by gaseous explosion – expert

29th Jun 2022

Government pathologist Dr Solomon Zondi believes the Enyobeni tavern victims died from a gaseous explosion on the ground floor which resulted in asphyxiation.
...

“Something gaseous exploded somewhere at the ground floor and caused asphyxiation. We are just waiting for toxicology to confirm what we are suspecting,” he said during the post-mortem examination of the deceased bodies.

He said those that were highly affected by the gaseous substance were at close proximity to the source of the explosion, noting that during the post-mortem examinations, he was cautious to not inhale any odour emanating from the bodies. At one stage his heart started racing as he examined a body.

“I was becoming dizzy and had to stop for a while,” he said, ruling out any possibility of a stampede and said injuries found on some of the victims were as a result of them falling on their face down...

[Emily]

Reporter Aviwe Mtila walks through the aftermath in the tavern. The crime investigation there is over and truckloads of liquor are being removed by the owner. Glad to hear that the survivors are getting counseling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hE76ciFJlA

[Emily]

https://abcnews.go.com/International/mass-funeral-21-teenagers-mysteriously-died-south-african/story?id=86234867

Mass funeral for 21 teenagers who mysteriously died at South African tavern being held Wednesday
No arrests have been made following their deaths.

By Liezl Thom
July 05, 2022, 12:50 PM

Preparations are underway in South Africa's coastal town of East London for Wednesday's mass funeral service of 21 teenagers who died under mysterious circumstances at a bar last week.

The results of the toxicology report are not yet available, but it is widely believed that they died after inhaling toxic gas or fumes while partying in the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park in the early hours on June 26.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the service Wednesday...