In connection with the tragedy, the proprietor and two staff members of the Enyobeni bar, where 21 youngsters unexpectedly died last month, have been detained.
The three were detained over the weekend and on Tuesday, according to a statement from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The three were taken into custody by a team of detectives working on the Scenery Park incident, according to Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, a spokeswoman for SAPS Eastern Cape.
“The Eastern Cape Liquor Board filed charges for violating the Liquor Act in Scenery Park Police Station, which was followed by the arrest of the 52-year-old suspect and two employees, ages 33 and 34.
“After the Liquor Board opened the case, the detectives got to work on the investigation process, which led to the issuance of fines totaling R2,000 to each of the two tavern employees, while summonses were imposed on the owner for his immediate arrest and court appearance.”
He stated that among other things, the Eastern Cape Liquor Act was allegedly violated or contravened by allowing or conspiring to sell or provide alcohol to minors under the age of 18 and to sell or supply alcohol to children.
On August 19, 2022, the bar owner is scheduled to appear in East London Magistrate Court to answer to the allegations.
The two workers have the option of paying a fine in accordance with the Liquor Act.
They must appear in the same court on August 19, 2022, if they don’t pay the fine, according to Kinana.
In the statement, the SAPS administration reaffirmed its commitment to making sure that all investigations into the Scenery Park incident are carried out in a competent and organized manner in order to guarantee a successful prosecution and subsequent conviction in a court of law.
Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, the provincial commissioner, expressed her gratitude for the investigators’ hard work.
She expressed her appreciation for the community and afflicted families’ tolerance.
“Just as we stated at the outset, investigation is a process and must be handled with the utmost caution and judgment in order to produce the desired results that we can all be proud of.
The amazing job we are doing behind the scenes has only begun, according to Lt Gen Mene.
The cause of death of the 21 adolescents who died in the Enyobeni tavern is still under forensic investigation, according to Kinana.
“As previously said, the results will be made accessible to the impacted families at the proper time and after the inquiry is complete.
At this time, there haven’t been any new developments, he said.