Bodies of 5 teens in Enyobeni tragedy remain unidentified

Bodies of 5 teens in Enyobeni tragedy remain unidentified

The Department of Health in the Eastern Cape has confirmed that the bodies of five teenagers who were killed at the Enyobeni tavern tragedy are yet to be identified. 

Bheki Cele East London tavern
Supplied: SAPS

Twenty-one people between the age of 13 and 20 were found dead at the tavern at Scenery Park on Sunday.


It is understood the victims flocked the tavern to celebrate the end of their school exams.


Pictures shared on social media show bodies with no visible signs of injuries and an investigation into the cause of their deaths is underway.


Eastern Cape Health spokesperson Yonela Dekeda says only 16 bodies have been identified by their families.


The department wanted to release all the bodies to the various families on Monday after the post-mortems were completed the previous night. 


READ: Bodies of teens in tavern tragedy to be released


"The forensic report is not ready yet as samples have been submitted to the forensic lab for analysis. Once these results are received the report will be finalised and handed to SAPS once received," Dekeda says.


She says 26 people were taken to Mpilweni Gompo Health Centre.


"Sixteen of those were treated and discharged yesterday (Sunday), presenting with backache, tight chests, vomiting and headaches. An additional 10 were observed and were not presenting with symptoms and were released.


“Two other patients were brought in at Gompo CHC as well by family members and were dead on arrival.”

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