On Wednesday, the coffins of 21 East London teenagers will line up for a mass funeral after the teens' senseless deaths last weekend in an incident that was as bizarre as it was devastating.
The day will weigh heavily on people across SA, but even more so on the community of Scenery Park, where many of the victims lived. They will be mourned for the adventures they will never get to enjoy, the achievements they will never celebrate.
While rumours have been quick to circulate, there has been no confirmation of the cause of the deaths, or if it was in the air, their drinks or food.
With more questions than answers, it is easy to direct our anger at the owner of the tavern where the teens died.
Siyakhangela Ndevu, who runs the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park with his wife Vuyokazi, is alleged to have enticed children as young as 13 to his pub, where he plied them with alcohol, luring them with free drinks, according to locals. Tavern regulars said he also ignored regulated operating hours.
Police must act swiftly and harshly if he is found to have broken any laws.
It is also easy to point fingers at police. Pubs are often left to trade as they please with no consequence.
But there is another place we should point our fingers: ourselves. How closely are we watching our children? Are we at all times aware of where they are, and who they're with? Some of the youngsters at Enyobeni last weekend had snuck out of their homes. Their parents are still unaware they were there, according to a health worker who was one of the first responders. The issue of underage drinking is a societal one and we cannot expect police or the local tavern owner to take full responsibility for what happened. There is culpability all round, and we as a society must acknowledge the role we have played in these deaths.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.