President Cyril Ramaphosa will be in attendance at the mass funeral service on Wednesday, of the 21 teenagers who died at Enyobeni Tavern in East London.
The 21 teenagers of which 12 were girls and nine boys, passed away last Sunday, 26 June, at a tavern in Scenery Park in the Eastern Cape. The young people are said to have collapsed and died from an unknown substance that is said to have been in the air.
The Eastern Cape government announced Ramaphosa would be joined at the service by Oscar Mabuyane, the Premier, as well as provincial and local government leaders to show support and comfort the families of the deceased youth.
The mass funeral is expected to take place at Scenery Park Sports Field from 09:00. Police Minister Bheki Cele previously ruled out that a stampede was the cause of death. The investigation into the cause of death is still investigated and no arrests have been made yet.
A case was opened by the Eastern Cape Liquor Board against the owner of Enyobeni Tavern, Siyakhangela Ndevu, and his wife, Vuyokazi, for allegedly selling alcohol to underage children.
The Scenery Park community expressed their concern and frustration about the establishment and complaints have been raised that the owner did not abide by the law as he sold alcohol to underage drinkers.