At least 22 people found dead in South African 'tavern'

**harrybarracuda** · 26-06-2022, 07:14 PM

At least 22 people are reported to have been found dead at a nightclub in South Africa.
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, according to the Daily Dispatch news site.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana told the Newzroom Africa rolling news channel in the country that young people were among the dead.
Reuters reported him saying they were aged between 18 and 20, but there are also reports they may have been younger, with AP saying they were reportedly attending a party to celebrate the end of winter school exams.
Siyanda Manana, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial health department, told Reuters: "We are going to immediately be embarking on autopsies so we can know the probable cause of death. We are talking 22 bodies right now."
AP said police were investigating the deaths of at least 20 but reporters at the Daily Dispatch newspaper had earlier said the death toll could be as high as 22.
Another five people have been taken to hospital, according to local broadcaster eNCA.

The Daily Dispatch added that there was speculation those who died were exposed to some kind of poison or died during a stampede.

Mr Manana said the bodies had been taken to state mortuaries.
The government minister in charge of police, Bheki Cele, was on Sunday morning expected to visit the scene.
The club's owner, Siyakhangela Ndevu, told eNCA he had been called to the scene early Sunday morning.
He said: "I am still uncertain about what really happened, but when I was called in the morning I was told the place was too full and that some people were trying to force their way into the tavern."
"However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death," Mr Ndevu added.
Zulu-language newspaper the Isolezwe News says eyewitnesses told them that "bodies were everywhere" with no signs of injury.

East London nightclub deaths: At least 22 people found dead in South African 'tavern' | World News | Sky News

**misskit** · 26-06-2022, 08:15 PM

Gas leak?

**harrybarracuda** · 26-06-2022, 08:48 PM

'Tis somewhat odd.

**misskit** · 26-06-2022, 09:07 PM

Carbon dioxide poisoning somehow?

**harrybarracuda** · 26-06-2022, 09:46 PM

Well gas poisoning is a possibility
They mentioned stampede
Maybe homemade alcohol like in those south asian weddings

**Backspin** · 27-06-2022, 04:30 AM

Sounds like a fentanyl party

**DrWilly** · 27-06-2022, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Maybe homemade alcohol like in those south asian weddings

That was my first thought.

**Backspin** · 27-06-2022, 07:03 AM

Looks like some pepper spray went off and caused a panic and then a trampling. Victims 13-17 yo

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 08:07 AM

It could be oxygen starvation. Maybe skidmark can ask his mum, she might remember it from his birth.

The exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear. A regional newspaper, DispatchLive, said its reporters had seen 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” along with “other bodies are slumped across chairs and lying over tables”.

Unverified pictures shared on social media showed bodies with no visible signs of injuries, lying on the floor of the club.

Autopsies are expected to give a clearer idea of what happened in the nightclub, which was reported to be very crowded.

The Eastern Cape provincial community and safety department official Unathi Binqose, speaking from the scene, ruled out a stampede as a cause of the deaths.

“It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead,” he said.

22 people found dead in South African nightclub | South Africa | The Guardian

**Bonecollector** · 27-06-2022, 10:19 AM

Very sad, RIP to all involved and in general, RIP to Safa

**dirk diggler** · 27-06-2022, 12:09 PM

Sounds like a bad batch of drugs to me. Probably pill form such as ecstasy.

Gas or Oxygen situations would have killed many more, especially if there was a mad rush for the exit.

**dirk diggler** · 27-06-2022, 12:11 PM

However, you’d think there would be affected survivors, critical or otherwise.

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 01:33 PM

Unfortunately it's behind a paywall, but a local paper has interviewed a survivor:

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

I am leaning towards tainted alcohol at this point.

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 01:38 PM

Jesus fucking wept, talk about being as thick as fucking shit.

(EFF is an SA political party).

EFF members, including some of its councillors from Buffalo City, arrived at the scene and demanded to go in and demolish the place.
Police prevented them from doing so and told them that nobody is allowed inside the crime scene.
They pointed at Buffalo City Metro Deputy Mayor Princess Faku who was at the scene, and those who are councillors argued that if she could be allowed in, they also deserved to be allowed in… but police stuck to their guns.

**dirk diggler** · 27-06-2022, 01:58 PM

"show me a 10ft paywall, I'll show you a 12ft ladder"

12ft Ladder

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

"show me a 10ft paywall, I'll show you a 12ft ladder"

12ft Ladder

That's about as useful as a foreskin in a jewish nudist camp.

'She drew her last breath crying for help': EL tavern survivor relives ordeal

**Bonecollector** · 27-06-2022, 02:32 PM

I somehow don't trust this guy.

**dirk diggler** · 27-06-2022, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

That's about as useful as a foreskin in a jewish nudist camp.

'She drew her last breath crying for help': EL tavern survivor relives ordeal

First time that's failed me so far.

SOUTH AFRICA

WATCH | Bheki Cele breaks down at Enyobeni Tavern tragedy

Cebelihle BhenguReporter

27 June 2022 - 09:00

Police minister Bheki Cele was heartbroken by the tragedy.
Image: File/ THAPELO MOREBUDI

Police minister Bheki Cele was overcome with emotion on Sunday while speaking about the deaths of at least 20 young people at Enyobeni Tavern in the Eastern Cape over the weekend.
The minister rushed to the tavern in Scenery Park on Sunday morning after news that 17 patrons had inexplicably died in the facility. Another three died in hospital while two remain in hospital in critical condition. Police are investigating the cause of the deaths.
Speaking outside the East London mortuary, Cele said what he witnessed inside the tavern was horrifying and he could not bring himself to look at all the bodies.
He then broke down and was excused.

Earlier, Cele told parents they needed to take responsibility for their children’s whereabouts to prevent such tragedies from happening. This after he had learnt the tavern was frequented by many minors, some as young as 13.
“I stay with my boy who is in university in Cape Town. He came back home after 11pm on Friday night and I sat him down and told him you don’t come home after 11pm,” Cele said.
The Daily Dispatch said initial speculation was the patrons were exposed to some form of poison as none of the bodies they could see had visible injuries.
Bodies were seen lying as if patrons collapsed suddenly while dancing or in conversation. Some bodies were seen slumped across chairs and over tables.
Daily Dispatch said family members called out for those they suspected had been in the tavern but were barred from entering the premises.
Buffalo City mayor Xola Pakati called on law enforcement authorities to leave no stone unturned in their investigations.
“What has happened can be equated to a massacre,” he said.
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu said townships were not isolated parts of the tourism industry as young international tourists enjoy township tours to get a sense of SA’s culture and vibrancy.
“This tragic incident which is being reported by international news platforms requires that we pay attention.
“As a mother, my heart breaks as I imagine the anguish visited upon the parents of these young people. As a leader, my immediate concern must be to provide a proper understanding of this moment and how we can support those affected,” she said.
The DA said it was “shocked” and “saddened” by the incident. The party also called on police to investigate and bring perpetrators to book.

**VocalNeal** · 27-06-2022, 03:34 PM

One report says they sprayed something ‘She drew her last breath crying for help’: tavern survivor relives ordeal

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

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 04:10 PM

Buffalo City community policing forum chair Ludumo Salman slammed social media users who widely shared graphic pictures of bodies inside the tavern.

Who wants to bet on which witless fucking ghoul will think posting such pictures here would be clever?

**harrybarracuda** · 27-06-2022, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

One report says they sprayed something ‘She drew her last breath crying for help’: tavern survivor relives ordeal

If that's true, I'm guessing they'll be well on their way to a neighbouring country by now if they aren't in one already.

**nidhogg** · 27-06-2022, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by DrWilly

That was my first thought.

Methanol poisoning would not fit -death was too quick.

Something fermented from the wrong type of cassava maybe?

**harrybarracuda** · 28-06-2022, 02:16 PM

The working theory is something inhaled or ingested.

**baldrick** · 28-06-2022, 02:24 PM

A digital invitation that circulated on Facebook promoting a party at the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London, on Saturday, 25 June, said “kuzofiwa”, which, in a party context, is a slang term for, “It’s going to be a great time”. Its literal translation in isiXhosa, however, is: “There is going to be death”.

Binqose said more information would be revealed by toxicology tests and the post-mortem, but the suspicion is that the deaths are linked to something the patrons had inhaled through hubbly-bubblies, which surveillance footage showed quite a few smoking.

The invitation to the party had specified “hooka” and alcohol would be available.

‘Kuzofiwa’ — a party invitation that foreshadowed...

**harrybarracuda** · 17-07-2022, 09:05 PM

I'm surprised that after three weeks they can't give a cause of death.

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