By Anita Dangazele
The inquest into who should be held responsible for the deaths of 21 young people at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London two years ago finally started on Monday, with the investigating officer recommending that the tavern owners be charged with culpable homicide.
Three witnesses have testified so far: a police constable stationed in Scenery Park, where the incident occurred; a young woman who went to the venue moments after the tragic incident; and Enyobeni tavern bouncer Thembisa Diko.
Retired investigating officer Brigadier Mxolisi Mqotyana said he had made a recommendation to the director of public prosecutions that the tavern owners, Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu, along with Diko, their bouncer, be charged with culpable homicide.
Mqotyana testified that CCTV footage showed tavern manager Siyakhangela Ndevu controlling the queue to the cashiers, proving that Ndevu knew about the overcrowding in the tavern. Ndevu earlier claimed he was nowhere near the tavern on the night.
He accused the tavern owner, manager and bouncer of negligence after pepper spray was used to control crowds in the poorly ventilated tavern.
“The whole building was fitted with cameras. I became comfortable that we would know what had happened,” Mqotyana told the court on Tuesday.
A total of 30 witnesses are expected to testify in the inquest, and the tavern owners are among those.
The couple said their previous court session had cost them over R400,000 – leaving them to represent themselves this time around.
Speaking on behalf of the families of the 21 victims, Ntombizonke Mgangala said they are hoping to get answers from the witnesses who will testify.
“It’s still early but we believe that the truth will reveal itself. We will be able to know what happened, how it happened, and the truth will eventually be put on the table. It does not matter when, but surely we know that will happen and we will not forget to thank our lawyer who is representing us well so far.”
Pictured above: Outside the notorious Enyobeni tavern where 21 youngsters tragically died two years ago.
Source: Facebook
