Enyobeni survivors testify in court

Survivors of the ‘pens down’ party at Enyobeni Tavern on 26 June 2022, that took the lives of 21 young people, testified at the inquest into the cause of the tragedy.

19-year-old Ovayo Mkhonkqo, who was just 16 years old at the time, told the court how she revived her unconscious friend that night, who had been thrown on a pile of bodies lying on the floor of the VIP area.

When they arrived at the tavern around 22H00 with five others, Mkhonkqo said there was a crowd outside. “We proceeded to the door and there was someone at the door, who had dreadlocks; they asked what we were doing there laughing. We were not searched but we gained entry.”

After 23h00 she could be seen on the surveillance footage, viewed by the court, proceeding to the bar to buy alcohol.

Mkhonkqo said immediately after she left the room where she bought alcohol, chaos began. “As we were leaving the room with Sinothando, we felt pepper spray and we wore masks that we brought with us. We proceeded to the VIP. After sometime, the lights went off, …We then decided to buy some meat and go home.

“On our way downstairs, I was holding Sinothando. We were stuck on the stairs, and I could feel I was losing her grip as we were holding each other by our clothes. I was crying because I could hardly breathe.

“I lost Sinothando as I got stuck in the stairs up to my upper body, but two men came to my rescue to pull me out. There were others who got injured and others were lying on the ground of the VIP.

“I saw four men holding up a chubby person and throw her on top of bodies lying on the floor unconscious. I went to her and realised it was my friend Liyabona Mgangala. I climbed on top of her, called her by name but she was not responding. I pumped her chest and she coughed. I held her up to exit the premises,” Mkhonkqo said.

The teenager said though she saved the life of her friend, they learned in the morning that Sinothando Mgangala, a relative of Liyabona, had died. She was discovered by her family who went to search for her after hearing about the calamity.

Family members of the 21 young people who lost their lives in the Scenery Park tavern three years ago. Archive photo by Chwayita Dinginto

A drunken tragedy

The inquest is probing who should be held accountable for the deaths. The testimony of the tavern manager, Siyakhangela Ndevu has been contradicted by the video evidence. During cross-examination he insisted that Mkhonkqo arrived in the early hours, after 01h00, already intoxicated, but he could be seen before that time selling alcohol to her. He disputes the accuracy of the times in the video footage, evidence he said he will later challenge.

Early last year, East London magistrate Kevin Von Bratt found the manager Siyakhangela and his wife, the tavern owner, Vuyokazi Ndevu, guilty of selling alcohol to minors. They were fined R5,000 each. The Eastern Cape Liquor Board, which laid the charges against the couple called for a harsh sentence but the magistrate stressed the need to separate the deaths of the 21 young people and the charges brought against the Ndevus under the Liquor Act.

Victim found bleeding with fractured neck

On Tuesday, another survivor, Somila Fuzile told the court that he and his cousin, Lithemba Velapi, arrived at the tavern after 21h00. Lithemba Velapi died that night.

He said while they were enjoying themselves, patrons kept coming into the tavern. “Because it was becoming too overcrowded, we panicked and decided to leave the tavern to enjoy ourself elsewhere. The bouncer opened the door and some of us were able to go, while four others who were buying alcohol were left behind. We waited at a vehicle parked outside. After sometime I received a text saying Lithemba was lying on the floor,” he said.

Fuzile said the door was still closed and they only managed to regain entry by pretending to be with police. “I got in and Lithemba was lying on the ground next to the counter. I went, and felt his pulse beating slow, his face was swollen, he had scratches like he was assaulted and was bleeding through the mouth and nose. We begged the bouncer to go out, to rush him to Frere Hospital. When we got to Frere, we put him in a wheelchair. I can’t say he was still alive because he couldn’t do anything by himself and his neck was not stable,” Fuzile told the court.

The doctor who attended to Velapi told them he was dead. The post-mortem report states that Velapi died from internal bleeding, insufficient oxygen and brain compression.

The Enyobeni inquest in the East London Regional Court has been postponed to the 30th of June.