Enyobeni trial postponed due to load shedding

The trial against Enyobeni tavern owners Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu has been postponed to 23 May 2023.

The trial began at the East London Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, but proceedings were halted because the recording machines would not be functional during the rolling blackouts.

It’s understood the state had lined up a witness from the liquor board, but prosecutors could not call the second witness because load shedding was scheduled.

The Ndevus are charged with selling liquor to underage children in relation to a deadly rave at the couple’s Scenery Park tavern.

A group of 21 teenagers, including pre-teens, died under mysterious circumstances while attending the close-of-school event in June last year.

ALSO READ: ‘They danced until they died’ – Enyobeni tragedy highlights SA’s unhealthy relationship with booze

The first witness

On Tuesday morning, the National Prosecuting Authority called its first witness, a local resident, to the witness dock.

Scenery Park resident, Mncedisi George Kwenana, told the court he used to frequent the Enyobeni tavern but stopped going after it started becoming popular with youngsters. He even complained that young girls visiting the bar started calling him “baby”.

The 67-year-old described to the court how Enyobeni tavern operations negatively affected the neighbourhood, saying the local spot sometimes traded until 4 in the morning.

Its patrons had also been a nuisance to nearby residents who often complained about unruly drunken behaviour, including littering their yards with empty liquor bottles and urinating on their property.

Kwenana said the Ndevus advised irate residents to build fences around their yards when they complained about drunk patrons.

ALSO READ: Enyobeni tragedy: Tavern owner to face criminal charges – ECLB

He also recalled being home on that fateful night, saying he was awoken by the screams of people who had seen the children’s dead bodies.

During the cross-exam, the Ndevus’ lawyer accused Kwenana of illegally selling liquor in this spaza shop. Kwenana denied any knowledge of illegal alcohol sales, saying he was just the landlord renting out the space.

The Ndevus’ lawyer also accused Kwenana’s daughter of being part of the problem because she allegedly sold food to Enyobeni customers.

While Kwenana admitted to selling liquor, he said he was not selling at the time that Enyobeni was operating. Ndevus’ lawyers then argued that Enyobeni was one of the taverns operating in the area, with another tavern just about 100 meters from Kwenana’s home.

Kwenana also admitted to physically attacking a young couple for having sex in public.

Crucially though, he was unable to recall whether there was load shedding on the night in question.

The case will continue in May when a member of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board is expected to testify.

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