Bodies of teens in tavern tragedy to be released
Health officials in the Eastern Cape say the bodies of the 21 young people who died inside a tavern in East London over the weekend are being released to their families on Monday.
The establishment in Scenery Park is said to have been packed with mostly teenagers celebrating the end of exams.
Eastern Cape Health spokesperson Yonela Dekeda says 16 of the youngsters have been identified by their families.
They're hoping the remaining next-of-kin will come forward on Monday.
Dekeda says the post-mortems were completed last night.
"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."
READ: Police seek clues after 21 teens die in tavern
"Five patients were taken to hospital, one was dead on arrival. Two of them were treated and discharged and two are still admitted to hospital. A further 26 patients Empilweni Gompo Health Care, 16 of those were treated and discharged yesterday."
Detectives are still trying to figure out exactly what happened inside the tavern.
Former president Thabo Mbeki has also sent his condolences to the families of the young people who've lost their lives.
He was speaking from his home during a visit by the Drakensburg Boys Choir to celebrate his 80th birthday.
"The death of these young people, I don't know what they were doing in the tavern and the way they died I don't know how hey died but is a very tragic event and I am quite sure that all of us will want to convey our condolences to the parent and relatives.
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