Liquor association: Tavern owners failed Enyobeni victims
The convener of the National Liquor Traders Association says tavern owners have failed to play their part in preventing the deaths of 21 young people in the Eastern Cape.
Lucky Ntimane addressed mourners at the mass funeral of the victims of the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
The service was held at the Scenery Park sports field on Wednesday.
"We are willing and stand ready to work with civil society and government so that we can contribute positively to our society. We cannot have a situation where we mention a 13-year-old and a tavern in one sentence."
READ: 'We have lost future doctors, nurses' - emotional tributes to 21 Enyobeni teens
"It should not be. It ends today. We need to find ways and means of nurturing our kids outside of [alcohol]. Alcohol is not a solution. It should never be a form of entertainment for our kids."
The victims, many of them teenagers, had packed into the tavern over a week ago to celebrate the end of exams.
From the accounts of survivors, those in the establishment were exposed to some sort of toxic chemical at some point during the night.
Police have yet to confirm the exact cause of the deaths.
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