The Buffalo City Executive Mayor has noted with great concern and sadness the death of over 20 young people in a Tavern in Scenery Park.
“Whilst the details of what exactly happened is still being investigated by the police, we find the occurrence disturbing and it is in fact the greatest tragedy that has ever happened in our Metro”.
“We call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stones unturned and ensure that those responsible are made to pay for this calamitous incident. What has happened can be equated to a massacre”, said the Executive Mayor, Councillor Pakati.
The Executive Mayor concluded: “We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives in this tragedy. We cannot even imagine the amount of pain and sorrow that you are in. No parent sends their child to a tavern, but even if they happen to go they do not deserve to die. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
POLICE: COMMUNITY MUST REFRAIN FROM MAKING SPECULATIONS
Police have asked the community to refrain from making speculations surrounding the death as the matter is currently under investigation.
On Sunday afternoon, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele and the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola led a high-level delegation of crime scene experts and bomb disposal technicians from the National Headquarters of the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management Component to complement and support the Eastern Cape Crime Scene Investigations teams.
The Minister of Police engaged with local residents and with parents of the deceased at the local mortuary where the process to identify the victims was underway.
Minister Cele has called on residents and affected families to allow police investigations to unfold.
“We have an experienced team that is complementing the provincial team to ensure that we get to the bottom of what has led to the death of these young people. We are also engaging other stakeholders to investigate issues of compliance to liquor legislation,” said General Cele.
Police have since registered an inquest into the death of the teenagers.
SAPS has urged anyone with information that could shed some light on the incident to please make contact with the Scenery Park Police Station or call the Crime Stop number 086 00 10111.
Meanwhile, deceased parents and families are trying to come to terms with the deaths and await answers so that they can find closure as to what could have caused the deaths of so many in a single night.
The Eastern Cape Rising Sun sends its condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the families are granted strength during this difficult time.
