Four years have passed since the tragedy, in which the teens lost their lives, with the youngest victim just 13 years old.
former Enyobeni Tavern owners, married couple Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu. Picture: X/@MorningLiveSABC
The East London Regional Court has found former Enyobeni Tavern owners, married couple Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi, liable for the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy.
The court in Mdantsane delivered judgment on Friday in the inquest into the deaths of 21 young people at Enyobeni Tavern.
Ruling
Magistrate Mkhululi Malindi found the owner and manager liable for failing to enforce liquor laws.
Malindi blamed the South African Police Service (SAPS) officer, Sergeant Thabisa Kondile, for gross negligence and failure to follow up on complaints about the Enyobeni tavern’s contravention of the Liquor Trading Act a month before the Enyobeni tragedy.
He also found Vuyokazi, bouncer Thembisa Diko and Eastern Cape liquor board inspector Zuko Lizani responsible for the June 2022 tragedy.
“The court finds that the death of the deceased was brought about by any act or omission, prima facie involving or amounting to an offence on the part of the following people: Sergeant Thabisa Kondile, Vuyokazi Ndevu, Siybulela Ndevu, Thembisa Diko and Eastern Cape liquor board inspector Zuko Lizani.
“The record of these proceedings is to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, forthwith as soon as a complete transcript record of the proceedings have been transcribed. This brings to the end of these proceedings,” Malindi ruled.
Families of the 21 young people who died at the Enyobeni tavern in June 2022 gathered for a short prayer ahead of the judgment delivery of the inquest investigating who should be held liable for their deaths.
Lives lost
Four years have passed since the tragedy, in which the teens lost their lives, with the youngest victim just 13 years old.
Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi were arrested in 2024 on charges under the Eastern Cape Liquor Act.
The inquest has heard months of evidence from survivors, forensic experts, investigators, and tavern manager Siyakhangela, who has consistently maintained he was not to blame for the tragedy.
[BREAKING NEWS] The judicial inquest into the death of 21 young people at Enyobeni Tavern finds police Sergeant Thabile Kondile, tavern owner Vuyokazi Ndevu, bouncer Thembisa Diko and Eastern Cape liquor board inspector Zuko Lizani responsible for the June 2022 tragedy. #Newzroom pic.twitter.com/g6Ki0cN2dl
– Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 10, 2026
Tragedy
On the night of the incident, the artists and DJs were provided with free drinks by Siyakhangela, according to one of the witnesses, Lihlumelo Lulani.
According to an Eastern Cape Department of Health toxicology report, the 12 boys and nine girls aged between 13 and 21 years old died due to overcrowding.
Tavern demolished
In October 2024, the East London High Court ordered Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi to demolish the structure within 90 days at their own cost.
The court also prohibited the property from operating as a tavern unless it met all legal and regulatory conditions.
In April, the South African Human Rights Commission issued its final report on the incident. The report made several damning findings against the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, the South African Police Service (Saps), the Buffalo City metropolitan municipality, and other government departments.
The commission said the court order aligns with its report’s call for stricter regulations at taverns.
