Government’s failure to ensure compliance by practitioners to laws such as selling alcohol to underage kids, children’s rights and measures aimed at curbing alcohol abuse are to blame for the Enyobeni tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 teenagers.
This according to the South African Human Rights Commission’s probe into the deaths of the teenagers the tavern in 2022. The commission has placed the blame on numerous government agencies.
Government departments fingered
Those held accountable include the police and parliament. The department of health and the department of social development are also fingered.
“National departments such as the department of Trade and Industry and Social Development neglected to prioritise crucial legislative measures aimed at curbing alcohol abuse.
“The Enyobeni tragedy further underscores violations of various legal frameworks. These include Section 28 of the South African Constitution. Also international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Children’s rights to protection from the harmful effects of alcohol were directly compromised. Thus …reflecting broader failures in regulatory compliance and enforcement,” said the report.
Owners received light sentences, fines
The report was released on Thursday. This was subsequent to the February sentence of the establishment’s owners, Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu.
The duo was sentenced to pay a fine of R5,000 each, or spend 100 days in prison.
In the report, the commission said the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to recalibrate regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms to prioritise the protection of children’s rights.
The commission has called for decisive action to address systemic deficiencies and safeguard the rights of all citizens. Particularly the most vulnerable among society.
“While acknowledging the economic contributions of the liquor industry, it is imperative to reassess the societal costs. To also prioritise the well-being of vulnerable populations,” the report reads.
Systemic deficiencies
The Enyobeni tragedy took place on June 26, 2022, in Scenery Park, East London.
Twenty-one teenagers perished at the drinking hole under unsettling circumstances. They had gone there to celebrate their “pens down” after the mid-year school examinations.
According to the report, there were “systemic deficiencies across multiple sectors. These were… underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to protect vulnerable populations and uphold human rights”.
Commissioners recommended putting a hold on all liquor licences in the province. This should be until the Eastern Cape Liquor Board has enough capacity for supervision.
