Underaged drinking at Valencia swimming pool
"Many of them are younger than 10 years old. They were all drinking." - Mr Sharief Khan
Residents of Valencia were appalled when hundreds of underaged drinkers’ spring bash defiled the neighbourhood swimming pool on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses say that when Valencia’s community-protection forum and the police closed in on the rowdy group, they fled from the scene on foot and in taxis.
Mr Sharief Khan, a member of the forum, explained what had happened. “We heard that there was going to be a spring bash at the swimming pool. Primary schoolkids were driven there in more than 20 taxis. By 14:00 about 400 people had arrived.”
According to Khan, many of them were underaged. “In fact, many of them are younger than 10 years old. They were all drinking.”
Due to the large number and rowdy behaviour of the drunk youngsters, the members of the forum were unable to control the group. The SAPS as well as the police’s flying squad were called. “They sent about 15 police vehicles that chased the kids out of Valencia park,” Khan said.
“We believe that they fled in the direction of the CBD’s taxi rank.”
View these photos taken of the youngsters who attended the spring bash and the premises itself:
More taxis – reportedly filled with more youngsters – arrived on the scene, but made U-turns when they saw the police and the community forum. When one of the taxi drivers was approached, he shouted, “If you touch my taxi, I’ll shoot you!” before speeding off.
At the time of going to press, the police could not confirm whether any of the alleged drinkers or drivers have been apprehended.
