Tavern’s money rejected

Capetown-150706-Youth from Khayelitsha during the march from Makhaza to Harare Police station where they submitted their memorandum-Picture by BHEKI RADEBE

Capetown-150706-Youth from Khayelitsha during the march from Makhaza to Harare Police station where they submitted their memorandum-Picture by BHEKI RADEBE

Published Jul 7, 2015

Share

Sandiso Phaliso

THE fate of the Khayelitsha tavern where eight young women died in a stampede will be determined on Thursday, Western Cape Liquor Authority spokesperson Philip Prinsloo said.

The authority has received the police report on the incident and Prinsloo said it would hold an interim hearing where members of the Liquor Licensing Tribunal

would meet the owner of Osi’s Place, who is known only as Osawa.

The tribunal’s six members included the Liquor Authority’s president, a police officer and a local government representative.

There would also be a presiding prosecutor, Prinsloo said, adding that the hearing’s outcome would decide if Osi’s Place’s liquor licence should be suspended.

If the tribunal decided to temporarily suspend the licence, a final hearing would be held later to decide whether to withdraw the licence permanently, Prinsloo said.

The owner of Osi’s Place had meanwhile closed his business voluntarily.

“We have received a report from the police.

“The licence holder of the tavern agreed to close until further notice,” Prinsloo said, adding that Thursday’s decision would be made public.

Police spokesperson André Traut would not confirm or deny whether the police report had been given to the authority.

“This matter is still under investigation and our timeframes in this regard cannot be disclosed,” Traut said.

The hearing follows the death of Vuyolwethu Mbono, Abulele Nkepu, Asisipho Dana, Ongeziwe Xekethwane, Ongezwa Ndaba, Zimkhitha Malinge, Athi Zokufa and Bongeka Cekiso on June 28.

Athi was celebrating her 15th birthday.

The stampede occurred after a shot was allegedly fired inside the packed tavern.

The young women, aged 15 to 23, were killed when a staircase railing collapsed and they fell 3m to the ground.

Two died when the vehicle transporting them to hospital was involved in an accident.

Six women, aged between 17 and 24, were injured.

A memorial service for the eight was held on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Nkebu’s uncle Simphiwe Nkebu said his family had rejected the tavern owner’s offer of R1 250 per family to help with funeral arrangements.

“We feel the money cannot do anything to help with the burial of any person.

She was supported by her grandmother, who depends on a government pension grant.

“How can he offer R10 000 to all the families to share?

“What are the families going to do with that little bit of money?” asked Nkebu.

SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Khayelitsha zone chairperson Vuyo Ndaba said he and other community leaders had met the tavern owner, Osawa, yesterday to discuss how the families were going to receive the money.

“We had a meeting at Harare police station and the owner offered them (families) R1 250 each, but not all the families were prepared to accept it, saying the money was too little,” Ndaba said.

“We also understand that the money is too little and we are trying to persuade him to offer more.” Another meeting between Osawa and the families would be held tomorrow to find a solution, said Ndaba.

About 100 Social Justice Coalition supporters marched to Harare police station yesterday to demand that the police, the Western Cape Liquor Authority and the City co-operate with each other to ensure tragedies like the one on June 28 were avoided in the future.

[email protected]

Related Topics: