Enyobeni Tavern inquest adjourned due to emotional state of witness

The Enyobeni Tavern inquest in the East London Regional Court, sitting in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, has been adjourned until Thursday due to the emotional state of a witness.

Siphiwe Tshabalala could not hold back her tears after she was given a photo album to identify the deceased person she was with, when 21 young people died in the Enyobeni Tavern in 2022.

Tshabalala is the third patron to take the stand.  She confirmed that on her arrival at around 11 o’clock, she engaged with the owner, Siyakhangela Ndevu, despite him claiming he left the tavern at around nine.

Tshabalala burst into tears and was unable to contain herself after seeing a picture of her friend’s lifeless body in the photo album.

She will continue with her testimony on Thursday, provided she is in a better state.

Security at the tavern is one of the issues that has come out at the inquest: