The shocking mass death incident took place on the evening of June 26, when dozens of youths at the Enyobeni nightclub reportedly “collapsed” in what local authorities initially suspected was a riot. Some of the victims were as young as 13, police said. South African investigators have since ruled out foul play, but toxicology reports on the dead have not yet been released. Speaking to the BBC, a 16-year-old attendee described seeing others in the nightclub “dropping like flies” after they gathered to celebrate the end of their high school midterms. He described the event as a free-for-all, adding that “the place was packed. Admission was free… and free alcohol was also provided. We started drinking and having fun with others.” According to local media, some attendees reported a “suffocating smell” in the tavern as one youth after another fell to the ground or onto tables. Another survivor, 19-year-old Sinovuyo Monyane, told AFP that “We tried to get through the crowd, shouting ‘please let us through’ and others were shouting ‘we are dying, children’ and ‘we are drowning’ and ‘there are people who cannot breathe. ». Footage taken on that sad night showed a bustling crowd moving through the Enyobeni Tavern shortly before the deaths, with loud music playing shortly before reports emerged that something had gone horribly wrong at around 4am local time. Following the reports, family members and loved ones of those in attendance began gathering outside the venue, which had been cordoned off by police, with some even trying to force their way through the gates in an attempt to reach the victims. . Although the exact cause of the deaths remains unclear, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to take action to stop the “scourge of underage alcohol” in the country. “We still don’t know what exactly killed our children. But we know that the law was broken that night, and probably many nights before that,” Ramaphosa said at a memorial service for the victims last week. In addition to the bar owner, two other men who worked at the venue, a 33-year-old and a 34-year-old, were arrested over the incident this week. The owner is due to appear in court on August 19, according to AFP.
