Pictures and videos by Sihle Mavuso and Henk Kruger
East London - Mourners gathered in East London on Wednesday to grieve the still-mysterious deaths of 21 teenagers in a poorly ventilated local tavern Enyobeni Tavern, 10 days ago.
Dressed in black, they sung and danced to solemn gospel songs in front of the coffins of 19 of the victims, the youngest of whom was a 13-year-old girl.
All were empty, the funeral parlour said, as police were still investigating the deaths - the remaining two were buried separately by their families.
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WATCH: The coffins of the victims of the eNyobeni Tavern tragedy are now being removed from the mass funeral venue which is Scenery Park Sports Field in East London. #EnyobeniTarven #Enyobeni @IOL pic.twitter.com/AJ8TTcXbRK
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - The person who is giving the closing prayer for eNyobeni Tavern mass funeral also prayed for President Cyril Ramaphosa. She says there is a lot of noise around him. Despite that, she prayed for strength for the President who is entangled in #PhalaPhalaGate @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniMassFuneral - President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded his lengthy speech by telling the mourning families that they are with them and they feel their pain. Signing off, he assured them that action will be taken after the tragedy claimed 21 lives and shocked the world. @IOL pic.twitter.com/jiH9hbnzzh
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniMassFuneral - President Cyril Ramaphosa says alcohol has been proven to be harmful and it has become another national crisis. He adds that action has to be taken now. Families of the tragedy needs support and counseling. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniMassFuneral - President Cyril Ramaphosa continues his crusade against alcohol abuse and irresponsible sale and consumption. He says binge drinking by 18 year-olds is now worrying. He adds "this is a national crisis", pleading with authorities to enforce the law. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniMassFuneral - President Cyril Ramaphosa pleads with alcohol producers and distributors to stop marketing their toxic product to children. He says South Africa is already facing an alcohol problem and it has already been counted among the top drnkers worldwide. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniMassFuneral - Although he earlier said today is not a day to lay blame on the door of others, President Cyril Ramaphosa says parents have responsibilities. He says it is their "God given" responsibilities to ask where a 13 year-old child is when the night falls. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTavern - Ramaphosa says in our culture raising a child is a societal duty, hence adults have to guide them when they go astray. Adults must reprimand them, equally, they must reprimand other adults who lead children astray. Turning a blind eye is a big no. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - President Cryil Ramaphosa continues with his mass funeral address. He says "this should never happen again" not only here, but anywhere in South Africa. He added that "this tragedy has affected all of us." He says children are raised by a community. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - President Cyril Ramaphosa says establishments violating liqour laws should be closed down and permanently. He says he wants the debate on upping the age of alcohol drinking from 18 to 21 to become "a national debate". Mourners are happy with proposal. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTavern - Ramaphosa says this is not the time for blame games, he says governments spelhetes should be blamed. He also says those selling alcohol to children should also shoulder the blame. Earlier, he said the parents wants answers and should not be kept waiting. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - President Cyril Ramaphosa is now meticulously recounting how the 21 deceased pupils were remembered by their families and friends and what they aspired to be in life. One of the deceased wanted to be a police officer. One Unathi wanted to be an actress. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - President Cyril Ramaphosa now answers his critics who said he has not business in coming to Scenery Park to mourn the tragedy. He says many children still needs to be saved. "We have the absolute right to be here, to come and mourn with their families." @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTavern - President Cyril Ramaphosa says "our hearts ate broken" adding that some parents will now be deprived of kindling their children and grandparents who will never see their grandchildren. Some schools lost pupils and some desks will be empty. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - President Cyril Ramaphosa says we were all deeply affected by the eNyobeni Tavern tragedy. He says he got to know about it while he was on state business in Germany, Europe. Earlier he said it is very painful for a parent to bury his or her own child. @IOL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
#EnyobeniTarven - Police Minister, Bheki Cele says no one will be spared after this tragedy as they are aware that even the SAPS did not act when it was asked by concerned residents. He says it is for that reason their team of investigators cqme from the national office. @IOL pic.twitter.com/T6edBTAIxc
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
WATCH: Police Minister, Bheki Cele leading mourners attending the mass funeral for the eNyobeni Tavern tragedy with a song saying there is a need for a prayer. @IOL pic.twitter.com/5rec1L2lak
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
WATCH: Dr Matiwane from the Eastern Cape Department of health explains to concerned mourners at the mass funeral for some of the victims of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy how the investigation regarding the 21 deaths has been going. He ruled out a stampede and pleaded for patience from affected families, saying this investigation is critical.
Video: Sihle Mavuso
WATCH: Before surrendering the podium after reading the obituary of one of the victims of the #EnyobeniTavern tragedy, this mourner whose name was not immediately established, turned to President Cyril Ramaphosa and said: "Mr President, the black race is fast perishing". @IOL pic.twitter.com/s6TADMKQbZ
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
PHOTOS: Families of the victims of the eNyobeni Tavern tragedy are now taking turns in reading obituaries of the pupils who perished in the early hours of June 26, 2022 while partying at the notorious at Scenery Park in East London. #EnyobeniTarven @IOL pic.twitter.com/FeyzGZted3
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
Visible grief and uncontrollable weeping were the order of the day during the mass funeral of some of the 21 victims of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy where partying underage learners perished under unexplained circumstances.
On Wednesday, the Eastern Cape provincial government and the Buffalo City metro hosted a mass funeral at Scenery Sports Field in East London. Learners from local schools, among them Sakhimkamva and Mzokhanyako, also came to mourn.
The relatives of the deceased took the front row inside the gigantic marquee pitched for the mass funeral.
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undefinedundefinedPHOTOS: The marquee pitched for the mass funeral for the victims of the #eNyobeniTavern tragedy is now fully packed. Some mourners have to follow the proceedings from outside where big screens have been mounted for them. @IOL pic.twitter.com/XJHCA1qQlr
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
WATCH: A mourner attending the mass funeral of some of the eNyobeni Tavern victims weeps uncontrollably as the coffins are brought in by Avbob staff members. The funeral is taking place at Scenery Park Sports Field in East London.
Video: Sihle Mavuso
undefinedWATCH: Inside the gigantic marquee set up at Scenery Park Sports Field in East London for the mass funeral for the 21 victims of the eNyobeni Tavern victims. President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the funeral with some of his Cabinet members.
Video: Sihle Mavuso
PHOTOS: Some of the mourning families who lost their children during the eNyobeni Tavern tragedy have already taken their seats inside the big marquee set up for the mass funeral at Scenery Park Sports Field in East London. @IOL pic.twitter.com/NYeB0Ju9A8
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
undefinedPHOTOS: Learners from Sakhikamva high school and Mzomkhanyako high school have arrived to take part in the funeral of their fellow learners who perished during the recent eNyobeni Tavern tragedy where 21 of them lost their lives. @IOL pic.twitter.com/dkySSVdSvS
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
PHOTOS: AVBOB staff setting up a gazebo in preparation for the arrival of some of the corpses for the 21 eNyobeni Tavern victims. @IOL pic.twitter.com/x9DkNREuR5
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) July 6, 2022
The funeral for the 21 young people who died at Enyobeni Tavern in East London is taking place today.
The funeral service is expected to take place at the Scenery Park sports field in East London.
The young people are said to have collapsed and died from an unknown substance that is said to have been in the air.
The president will be joined at the funeral service by the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and the provincial and local government leaders in comforting the families of the deceased youth.