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An Eastern Cape court has ruled that there is enough evidence for prosecutors to consider criminal charges against several individuals in connection with the 2022 Enyobeni Tavern tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 young people.
Delivering judgment on Friday, the court concluded that a prima facie case exists against the tavern owners, an Eastern Cape Liquor Board official, a police officer and a former bouncer. The matter will now be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which will decide whether criminal prosecutions should proceed.
The inquest was convened to determine whether anyone could be held criminally responsible for the deaths of the victims, who were between the ages of 13 and 21. The teenagers died during a packed “pens down” celebration at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London, in June 2022, in one of South Africa’s deadliest youth tragedies.
In his findings, the magistrate identified sufficient evidence that could justify criminal prosecution of the tavern owners, Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu, along with Eastern Cape Liquor Board official Zuko Kondile, police officer Thabisa Kondile and former bouncer Thembisa Diko. The ruling does not amount to a finding of guilt but means prosecutors have a legal basis to consider laying criminal charges.
The judgment follows a lengthy inquest during which witnesses testified about alleged failures in crowd management, liquor law enforcement and regulatory oversight. Throughout the proceedings, families of the victims have continued to call for accountability and justice nearly four years after losing their children.
The NPA will now assess the court’s findings and decide whether formal criminal charges should be brought against any of those implicated.
