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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two Enyobeni Tavern bosses have been fined R5,000 each, or to spend 100 days in prison, after they were found guilty on just one count of selling liquor and conniving with employees to sell liquor to underage persons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">East London Magistrate, Kevin von Bratt, stated that the state presented a lot of circumstantial evidence and that only the testimony of then-17-year-old Sinemihlali Haka could be trusted for convicting </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tavern owners</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1743541 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_3591.jpg\" alt=\"enyobeni inquest\" width=\"2540\" height=\"1555\" /> <em>Photographs of some of the young people who died in the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy are displayed by relatives at an anniversary commemoration on 26 June 2023 at Scenery Park Community Hall, East London. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Eastern Cape Liquor Board brought the charges after </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-06-26-the-tragic-story-of-the-enyobeni-21-no-consequences-clarity-action-or-change/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21 young people died</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the Ndevu’s Scenery Park tavern, Enyobeni. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-08-30-parents-hope-for-answers-as-inquest-into-deaths-of-21-young-people-at-an-east-london-tavern-is-set-to-begin/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents hope for answers as inquest into deaths of 21 young people at an East London tavern is set to begin</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple had pleaded not guilty and took the witness stand in their defence. After the state closed its case, the defence applied for a discharge, according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, but the prosecution successfully opposed that application. To secure the conviction, Senior State Prosecutor Thango Pangalela led evidence of nine witnesses, including two minors who survived the tragic event. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Haka testified that he drank at the tavern before the tragedy, and that the security personnel and owners did not attempt to verify his age.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1319873 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fdenyobeni4.jpg\" alt=\"An image of Enyobeni tavern with underage drinking in the spotlight\" width=\"4439\" height=\"2961\" /> <em>Investigating officers with the tavern owner Vuyokazi Ndevu at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park outside East London on 5 July 2022. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla/Daily Maverick)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>No apology</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In August last year, an unremorseful Siyakhangela refused to apologise or sympathise with the parents of 21 young people who died at his tavern.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said that even if he were found guilty, “I would be like Jesus dying for sins I know nothing of”. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The victims, aged between 13 and 17, died during a “pens down” party to celebrate the end of the June exams.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-01-i-didnt-kill-anyone-says-tavern-owner-on-first-day-of-inquiry-into-deaths-of-21-teens/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘I didn’t kill anyone,’ says tavern owner on first day of inquiry into deaths of 21 teens</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delivering the judgment, Magistrate Von Bratt said: “Let me say that the extreme punishment on first offenders will be impossible. A fine will be appropriate.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also said it would be difficult to imagine a scenario where the Ndevus would be issued with another liquor licence under the present circumstances. He added that having considered all the evidence and in the interest of the Scenery Park community, each of the accused is sentenced to a fine of R5,000 or 100 days in jail. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1663243 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/17-Enyobeni-tavern-trial-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2570\" height=\"1526\" /> <em>Protesters call for justice outside East London Magistrate court, during the Enyobeni Tavern owners' court appearance on 25 April 2023. (Photo: Hoseya Juabse).</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>‘Only a wrist slap’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some parents broke down after the sentencing, as they said it felt like it was a slap on the wrist. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were hoping for a maximum sentence (a fine not exceeding R1,000,000, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years),” said Khululekile Ncandana, the father of Bhongolethu Ncandana, who died at the tavern. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“All the other parents are not happy with the sentencing. It is difficult for us to celebrate this. We are not happy.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The formal inquest into the deaths of 21 young people at the Enyobeni Tavern is still to commence at the Mdantsane Regional Court. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who should be held criminally liable are due to be identified. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": "A group carrying placards outside East London Magistrate court, during the Enyobeni Tavern owners' court appearance on 25 April 2023. (Photo: Hoseya Juabse).",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two Enyobeni Tavern bosses have been fined R5,000 each, or to spend 100 days in prison, after they were found guilty on just one count of selling liquor and conniving with employees to sell liquor to underage persons.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">East London Magistrate, Kevin von Bratt, stated that the state presented a lot of circumstantial evidence and that only the testimony of then-17-year-old Sinemihlali Haka could be trusted for convicting </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tavern owners</span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vuyokazi and Siyakhangela Ndevu.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1743541\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2540\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1743541 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_3591.jpg\" alt=\"enyobeni inquest\" width=\"2540\" height=\"1555\" /> <em>Photographs of some of the young people who died in the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy are displayed by relatives at an anniversary commemoration on 26 June 2023 at Scenery Park Community Hall, East London. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Eastern Cape Liquor Board brought the charges after </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-06-26-the-tragic-story-of-the-enyobeni-21-no-consequences-clarity-action-or-change/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21 young people died</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the Ndevu’s Scenery Park tavern, Enyobeni. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-08-30-parents-hope-for-answers-as-inquest-into-deaths-of-21-young-people-at-an-east-london-tavern-is-set-to-begin/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents hope for answers as inquest into deaths of 21 young people at an East London tavern is set to begin</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple had pleaded not guilty and took the witness stand in their defence. After the state closed its case, the defence applied for a discharge, according to Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, but the prosecution successfully opposed that application. To secure the conviction, Senior State Prosecutor Thango Pangalela led evidence of nine witnesses, including two minors who survived the tragic event. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Haka testified that he drank at the tavern before the tragedy, and that the security personnel and owners did not attempt to verify his age.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1319873\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"4439\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1319873 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fdenyobeni4.jpg\" alt=\"An image of Enyobeni tavern with underage drinking in the spotlight\" width=\"4439\" height=\"2961\" /> <em>Investigating officers with the tavern owner Vuyokazi Ndevu at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park outside East London on 5 July 2022. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla/Daily Maverick)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>No apology</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In August last year, an unremorseful Siyakhangela refused to apologise or sympathise with the parents of 21 young people who died at his tavern.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said that even if he were found guilty, “I would be like Jesus dying for sins I know nothing of”. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The victims, aged between 13 and 17, died during a “pens down” party to celebrate the end of the June exams.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-01-i-didnt-kill-anyone-says-tavern-owner-on-first-day-of-inquiry-into-deaths-of-21-teens/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘I didn’t kill anyone,’ says tavern owner on first day of inquiry into deaths of 21 teens</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delivering the judgment, Magistrate Von Bratt said: “Let me say that the extreme punishment on first offenders will be impossible. A fine will be appropriate.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also said it would be difficult to imagine a scenario where the Ndevus would be issued with another liquor licence under the present circumstances. He added that having considered all the evidence and in the interest of the Scenery Park community, each of the accused is sentenced to a fine of R5,000 or 100 days in jail. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1663243\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2570\"]<img class=\"wp-image-1663243 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/17-Enyobeni-tavern-trial-08.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2570\" height=\"1526\" /> <em>Protesters call for justice outside East London Magistrate court, during the Enyobeni Tavern owners' court appearance on 25 April 2023. (Photo: Hoseya Juabse).</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>‘Only a wrist slap’</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some parents broke down after the sentencing, as they said it felt like it was a slap on the wrist. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were hoping for a maximum sentence (a fine not exceeding R1,000,000, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years),” said Khululekile Ncandana, the father of Bhongolethu Ncandana, who died at the tavern. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“All the other parents are not happy with the sentencing. It is difficult for us to celebrate this. We are not happy.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The formal inquest into the deaths of 21 young people at the Enyobeni Tavern is still to commence at the Mdantsane Regional Court. </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who should be held criminally liable are due to be identified. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"summary": "The Enyobeni tragedy led to the deaths of 21 young people. On Friday, a magistrate fined each owner of Enyobeni Tavern R5,000, or ordered them to spend 100 days in prison, after finding them guilty of selling alcohol to a minor. The fine was labelled a slap on the wrist by some family members of the deceased who had gathered at the court.\r\n",
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Photographs of some of the young people who died in the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy are displayed by relatives at an anniversary commemoration on 26 June 2023 at Scenery Park Community Hall, East London. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)
Investigating officers with the tavern owner Vuyokazi Ndevu at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park outside East London on 5 July 2022. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla/Daily Maverick)
Protesters call for justice outside East London Magistrate court, during the Enyobeni Tavern owners' court appearance on 25 April 2023. (Photo: Hoseya Juabse).