ENYOBENI TAVERN LIVE UPDATES: Bheki Cele among mourners

A mass funeral for the victims of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy is underway on Wednesday, 6 July. Follow our live blog below for up-to-date reporting.

The funeral for the 21, who died in June, will be held on the Scenery Park Sports Ground in East London.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be in attendance to honour the victims, as will Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Police Minister Bheki Cele.

Enyobeni tavern updates

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Investigation underway

During a visit to Gugulethu, Cape Town on Tuesday, Cele said investigating officers “are making headway into their investigations”.

He said “better responses” and a full briefing will be made available on Wednesday.

“We want to make sure something like this never happens again. It’s a sad situation, and it’s a situation that breaks every human being that has a soul,” Cele said.

WATCH: Funeral live stream

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Enyobeni Tavern: Funeral Schedule

• 8:00 Family members of the deceased arrive at the Scenery Park Sports Ground
• 9:00 President Ramaphosa arrives at Scenery Park Sports Ground and awaits for the arrival of the Cortèges
• 9:15 Playing of South African National Anthem by South African Police Band
• 9:20 Opening Prayer by Apostle Bathandwa Kwatsha
• 9:30 Opening remarks by Programme Director
• 9:45 Welcome remarks by Premier Mabuyane
• 10:00 Reading of obituaries by 21 Family Representatives (3 minutes)
• 10:15 Musical item by Massed Choir
• 10:30 Message of support by AVBOB Representative
• 10:35 Message of support by Association of Liquor Traders Representative
• 10:40 Musical item by Massed Choir
• 10:45 Remarks by Minister Cele / Minister Lindiwe Zulu
• 10:55 Eulogy by President Ramaphosa
• 11:35 Sermon by Bishop Andile Mbete
• 11:55 Vote of thanks by Cllr Xola Pakati, Executive Mayor of Buffalo City District Municipality
• 12:00 Benediction by Pastor Pam Daweti

Watch: Bheki Cele breaks down

Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele had to excuse himself from a live interview as he broke down in tears.

Cele later said: “It’s a terrible scene. They are pretty young. When you are told they are 13 years, 14 years and you go there, and you see them. It breaks [you].”

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