The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Eastern Cape hopes that justice will be served following the appearance of Enyobeni Tavern owners Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu for the tragic deaths of 21 teenagers at the tavern in the Eastern Cape.
The trial against tavern owners Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela began this morning in the East London Magistrates court where the proceedings were halted due to load shedding.
The first state witness Mncedisi Kwenana told the court that he stopped drinking at that tavern after it started becoming popular among young boys and girls who were calling him using names such as “babe”.
Kwenana told the court that the noise from the tavern and the behaviour of its customers was affecting the neighbours negatively and the owners were arrogant. He said the Ndevu’s told the neighbours to build fences around their yards when they complained about the unruly patrons.
The pair is facing charges of illegal sale and distribution of alcohol to minors following a “pens-down “ event that left 21 teens dead in June last year. To date, no one has been charged for the tragic death of the children.
But the NPA spokesperson Luxulo Tyali told Newsnote that the investigations into the death of the teens who are believed to have inhaled methanol poisoning are underway.
‘’We have been briefing the families of the deceased and the community about the developments as far as the case is concerned,” Tyali said.
He said the matter heard in court was laid by the Provincial Liquor Board, not the state. A member of the Liquor Board is expected to take the witness stand when the matter resumes on May 23, 2023.