Ramaphosa mourns deaths of 20 youngsters in South African nightclub

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday mourned the deaths of more than 20 young people at a tavern in Scenery Park in East London in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province.

Ramaphosa is currently in Germany for a G7 meeting at the invitation of the host Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“This tragedy is made even more grave by its occurrence during Youth Month – a time during which we celebrate young people, advocate and advance opportunities for improved socio-economic conditions for the youth of our nation,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.

Ramaphosa also expressed his concern regarding the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue that ought to be off-limits to persons under the age of 18.

“The President expects the law to take its course following investigations into the tragedy.”

South African police on Sunday launched an investigation following the deaths of the youngsters who died mysteriously.

Police Minister Bheki Cele led a national delegation in visiting the scene of the incident earlier in the day and received a preliminary report from the regional team.

At least 20 people were found dead at a nightclub in a township in South Africa’s southern city of East London on Sunday, police said.

“The number has increased to 20, three have died in hospital. But there are still two who are very critical,” the head of the provincial government safety department Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe said on local TV.

“We got a report about 17 (people) died in a local tavern in Scenery Park which is based in East London. We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident,” a provincial police chief brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said.

“We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident,” he added.

He said the victims were aged between 18 and 20 years.

The Eastern Cape provincial community and safety department official Unathi Binqose, speaking from the scene, ruled out a stampede as the cause of death.

“It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead,” Binqose said.

A regional local newspaper, DispatchLive, reported that “bodies are lying strewn across tables, chairs and on the floor; with no obvious signs of injury”.

Unverified pictures shared on social media showed bodies with no visible signs of injuries, strewn on the floor of the club.

Local television showed police officers trying to calm down a crowd of parents and onlookers gathered outside the club in the city, which lies on the Indian Ocean coast, nearly 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Johannesburg.

“Parents whose children did not sleep at home are gathered here and they want to enter the tavern to look for their loved ones,” said Binqose.

He said he understood the patrons were students “celebrating pens down, a party held after writing (high school) exams.”

AFP and wire reports