CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African authorities investigating 21 youngsters discovered lifeless at an east coast tavern over the weekend mentioned on Monday the youths have been most likely killed by something they ate, drank or smoked, ruling out the earlier-touted risk of a stampede.
The nonetheless unexplained deaths of the teens, a few of whom have been celebrating the top of faculty exams and others a birthday celebration, have introduced an outpouring of grief and shocked a nation accustomed to accidents linked to a binge ingesting tradition.
“It is both something they ingested which can level to poisoning, whether or not its meals or drinks, or it’s something they inhaled,” Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for the (*21*) Cape’s provincial group security division mentioned by phone on Monday. He mentioned hookah pipes have been seen in CCTV footage of the scene.
“We are ruling out a stampede fully,” he added, after preliminary media stories recommended this may be a doable reason behind the deaths. Police mentioned 21 had died, one fewer than initially thought.
(*21*) Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana informed Reuters that the youngest of the victims was a 13-year-old lady.
Addressing a crowd exterior a mortuary in East London on Sunday, an emotional Police Minister Bheki Cele needed to pause talking as he began weeping, triggering a refrain of cries amongst his viewers.
Pictures circulating on social media since Sunday, nonetheless unverified by the authorities, confirmed the our bodies of youths mendacity scattered throughout the ground of the tavern, some additionally seen immobile on tables and couches.
Authorities are anticipated to provide a toxicology report as a part of the investigation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned on Sunday he was nervous concerning the circumstances beneath which younger individuals, no less than some beneath the age of 18 years, have been allowed to assemble on the tavern. It is prohibited to serve drinks to under-18s in South Africa.
The tavern in query had its liquor license revoked on Monday, Mgwebi Msiya, spokesperson for the (*21*) Cape Liquor Board, mentioned.
“We are on our option to the tavern now to serve them with that suspension letter. We need them to cease buying and selling instantly,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Peter Graff)
