S/Africa’s 21 youths who died in tavern were suffocated, families say

Mass funeral of South African teenagers who died in East London tavern

People gather near empty coffins ahead of a mass funeral for victims of an east coast tavern where bodies of youth were found which prompted nationwide grief, in the Eastern Cape province, in East London, South Africa, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Parents of the 21 young people who died in a tavern tragedy in June said they were suffocated, relaying to reporters what health department officials told them was the conclusion of an official probe.

Five parents on Thursday said the youths, the youngest of whom was a 13-year-old girl, died while partying in a popular nightspot in a township outside the coastal city of East London in the Eastern Cape Province.

The grieving relatives of the victims had been demanding answers as to how.

A spokesperson for the health department for the Eastern Cape province declined to comment on the results of the investigation and told reporters that the probe would not be published. (Reuters/NAN)

Breaking news & top stories

Stay connected with The Sun Newspaper

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and live updates delivered straight to your phone. Join thousands of readers already following us on Whatsapp Channel and Telegram.

Breaking news & top stories

Follow The Sun Newspaper

Get live updates & exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone.