adminDURBAN. – Police chiefs have slammed reports suggesting the cause of death in relation to the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said police were still investigating what caused the deaths of 21 teenagers.
Kinana said after conducting investigations in the building structure where the incident allegedly took place, and on the bodies where autopsies were conducted, all the exhibit specimen extracted were taken to the forensic laboratory for toxicology examination.
“Until such time that the work of the forensic laboratory is concluded, any informal and unofficial information which is not released by the South African Police Service, must be regarded as falsehood and misleading to the public and the affected deceased families,” Kinana said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, cautioned against the spreading of fabricated stories which carry a potential to sow confusion and doubts into police investigations.
“As indicated earlier, at an appropriate time and when an official report has been made available by the experts, the families and members of the public will be informed by the relevant authority.
“We urge people to refrain from making risky assumptions which do not assist our investigations,” Lt-Gen Mene said.
Survivors of the mysterious incident said there was a strong and suffocating smell in the building the night of the tragedy.
“They died as they danced,” Police Minister Bheki Cele said.
“They dance, fall, and die. Literally.
“Others would just feel dizzy, sleep on the sofa, (and) die. It tells you the story that they were all kids because somebody should have taken note.”
Questions remained about what caused the deaths of the nearly two dozen patrons, who were not old enough to drink in the tavern legally.
Authorities ruled out initial reports of a stampede.
Instead, investigators suspect they could’ve been poisoned or died from a gas leak.
Investigators are awaiting toxicology reports.
“It is either something they ingested which will point to poisoning, whether its food or drinks, or it is something they inhaled,” Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for Eastern Cape’s provincial community safety department, said.
He said hookah pipes were seen on CCTV footage of the night.
Kamvelihle Matafeni, 18, went to the tavern that night to celebrate two popular DJs’ birthdays. Matafeni said she saw something thrown through the door and into the crowd, the Washington Post reports.
“I can’t breathe,” she heard them yell. “I’m choking.”
She fought through the crowd to the door, also struggling for air.
“People were falling around me,” she said. “They were dying right in front of my eye.” -msn/Atalanta Black Star
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