Thulisile Mapongwana
The trial of the owners of East London's Enyobeni tavern, where 21 young people died last June, began on Tuesday with a 16-year-old youth giving his evidence in camera.
Tavern owners, Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu are charged with selling alcohol to underage persons and for allegedly contravening the Liquor Act.
National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) spokesperson, Luxulo Tyali, said afterwards that the boy had witnessed the chaos unfold on the night in question.
"The significance of his testimony is that the incident happened in his presence. And, whatever happened there it was first-hand information to him," Tyali said
He said the youth testified that it was not the first time that he had gone to Enyobeni and witnessed liquor being sold to his peers.
Last July authorities released details of the preliminary post-mortem results but no cause of death was provided.
Meanwhile, The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) is still demanding accountability for East London's Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
SAAPA Communications Officer, Terri Fontien, said has been almost a year since they filed a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission.
She told Algoa FM News that they still have not been advised when investigations into the tavern tragedy would be concluded.
"SAAPA SA had laid an official complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission because we do not believe that the 21 children who lost their lives were being protected. We do no believe that the owners of the establishment were following existing legislation regarding liquor licensing," she said.
The matter continues on Tuesday after being postponed due to load shedding.
Also Read: Enyobeni tavern tragedy, authorities no closer to final answer on cause of death
