HOT: Enyobeni Tavern Owners Granted A Fine Of R5K Or Spend 100 Days In Jail

Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Enyobeni Tavern owners granted a fine of R5K or spend 100 days in jail.

Magistrate Kevin von Bratt instructed the couple to pay a fine of R5,000 each, or spend 100 days in prison.

The duo was found guilty of contravening the Liquor Act by selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18. This led to the Enyobeni tragedy, where 21 teenagers lost their lives in June 2022. The tragic incident happened at the tavern, which operated in East London, in the Eastern Cape.

In handing down sentencing, Magistrate Kevin von Bratt emphasised that it was important for the public to keep in mind that proceedings were not meant to deal with the deaths of the 21 minors but rather the contravention of the Liquor Act, a charge the Ndevu’s were convicted on.

Von Bratt said it was impossible to determine how much knowledge the Ndevu’s had of what was going in terms of liquor being sold to minors.

The court established beyond reasonable doubt that at least one minor was sold alcohol on the night in question.

Von Bratt said it is sobering to think that if there had been proper policing and control measures in place, the victims would not have died.