Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu, the owners of Enyobeni Tavern in East London, in the Eastern Cape have been fined R5 000 each or spend 100 days behind bars. And, this comes after they were found guilty of selling alcohol to the underage children in June 2022, the National Prosecuting Authority reported.
ENYOBENI TAVERN OWNERS SENTENCED TO 100 DAYS IN JAIL OR FINED R5K
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the Enyobeni Tavern owners and married couple Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu were found guilty of selling intoxicating liquor to persons under the age of 18 years. The court is said to have found without reasonable doubt that the couple acted in violation of the Liquor Act in selling alcohol to children at their establishment.
On 25-26 June 2022, 21 children died at Enyobeni Tavern including teenagers as young as 13 years, IOL reported. According to the publication, reports suggested that some of the children succumbed to their deaths after they were crushed to death at their exam pens down celebration at the tavern.
The Citizen recently reported that in his sentencing, the East London Regional Court magistrate Kevin Von Bratt said: “The extreme punishment on first offenders will be impossible. [And] in this light, I believe the imposition of a fine will be appropriate.”
“When considering the possible suspension as part of it, I would say that would probably be futile. It is difficult to imagine any scenario where the two accused would be issued with another liquor license at present,” Von Bratt was quoted as saying.
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME REACTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA USERS BELOW…
“Mxm! Then why did you take so long just to give a sentence like this????? The justice system in South Africa needs an overhaul,” @M3333M_ said.
“When are u telling the parents what exactly killed their children. Being in a tavern does not kill?” @RaymondMog972 said.
“The fact that people died & the incident got so much attention. Minister Cele also made a halabaloo about this… this outcome makes the justice system look silly 😔,” @tchabeli commented.
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