One of the owners of the Enyobeni tavern took the stand in the East London Magistrates Court to deny that the 21 young people who died in the Scenery Park tavern last June, bought alcohol at the establishment.
Siyakhangela Ndevu took the stand for the defence after Magistrate Kevin von Bratt, turned down an application for the charges against him and his wife, Vuyokazi, to be withdrawn.
In his testimony, Siyakhangela Ndevu, said that the young people arrived drunk and pushed their way into the tavern.
He also disputes the testimony of his bouncer who had asked for additional help as hundreds of underage patrons pushed to gain entrance into the already overcrowded tavern.
Ndevu further accused all the state’s witnesses of lying, saying State Prosecutor Tango Pangalele might be behind the lies.
The exact cause of the death of the 21 young people has still not been revealed.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
