South African president decries deaths of 21 teens in tavern

EAST LONDON, South Africa — The deaths of 21 teenagers in a nightclub tragedy is a crime and South African officials must increase steps to prevent alcohol from being illegally sold to youths, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday.

“We do not know yet exactly what killed our children. But we do know that the law was broken that night, and probably many nights before then,” Ramaphosa said to more than a thousand mourners at the funeral in East London for the young people who died at a tavern nearly two weeks ago.

“We are losing our future generation to the scourge of underage drinking,” the president said, urging police to determine the exact cause of their deaths and calling on officials to stop youngsters from being permitted access to bars.

“Blame must be laid at the feet of those who are making money off the dreams and lives of the young people of South Africa by breaking the law and selling them alcohol,” he said.

Two rows of caskets in front of Ramaphosa symbolized the young lives lost.

“Today we shed bitter tears for the 21 young people that have died in this tragedy,” Ramaphosa said. “These children should not have died. Their deaths could have been prevented had the law been adhered to.”