Owner of South Africa bar where many young people died appears in court

The owner of a bar in South Africa many young people died in mysterious circumstances has appeared in court, while authorities continue to probe the cause of the incident.

Siyakhangela Ngevu is charged with violation or contravention of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act by permitting or conniving for the selling or supplying of alcohol to children under the age of 18 years and for selling or supplying of alcohol to children.

It will be recalled that 21 teenagers died at Enyobeni Tavern in the Eastern Cape last month.

It is thought they had been celebrating the end of their exams, with the youngest aged just 13.

While the cause of death of the 21 teens at the Enyobeni tavern in June is still under investigation, parents and residents want the owner to be charged with murder, instead of violating the Liquor Act.

Mr Ngevu did not enter a plea at this initial court hearing, and the matter has been postponed until second of September.

The owner has previously said he was not at the tavern on the night of the tragedy, when more than 20 young people collapsed and died.

Some parents have expressed their anger over what they described as the authorities’ slow response in establishing what killed their children.

The government now says it will release full forensic results by the end of August.