Siyakhangela Ndevu, the owner of the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, took the stand on Wednesday at the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court as part of the ongoing inquest into the tragic deaths of 21 teenagers in 2022.
Representing himself in the proceedings, Ndevu began questioning Colonel Zingisa Majova, an investigating officer who was among the first to arrive at the scene. His line of questioning focused not only on the events of that night but also on the role of the victims’ families.
During Majova’s testimony, Ndevu suggested that some blame should be directed toward the parents of the victims. He argued that law enforcement should have considered charging the parents with negligence for allowing their children out late at night.
“Every day, I make sure to check on my children, even at midnight, because I know what’s happening on the streets,” Ndevu said. “Some parents were reportedly intoxicated when police went to inform them about the tragedy. They didn’t even know their children were missing.”
The inquest continues as it seeks to determine accountability for the devastating incident that claimed young lives. June 26 marked three years since the tragedy occurred.