By: Angela Li

In South Africa, at least 20 teens were found dead in a nightclub, with no visible scars or injuries on their bodies. Local newspaper Daily Dispatch reported that bodies were slumped all over the tables and chairs of the nightclub, with a few even laying on the dance floor of Enyobeni Tavern. The youngest victim was a 13-year-old girl.

It was unclear what had happened to these young teens, who were reportedly attending a party to celebrate the finish of their annual winter exams at their school. Police were alerted by members of the public about this unfortunate incident about 3 kilometers away from the city center. “At this point we cannot confirm the cause of death,” said health department spokesperson Siyanda Manana. “We are going to conduct autopsies as soon as possible to establish the probable cause of death.”

National police minister Bheki Cele, who was expected to arrive at the scene on Sunday morning, said the victims’ age ranged from 13 to 17, and raised questions about why these underage teens were being served alcohol. Expressing his condolences in a statement to the affected families, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is “concerned about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off-limits to persons under the age of 18.”

The owner of the club, Siyakhangela Ndevu, told local broadcaster eNCA that he had been called and informed of the scene early Saturday morning. “I am still uncertain about what really happened, but when I was called in the morning I was told the place was too full and that some people were trying to force their way into the tavern,” he said. “However, we will hear what the police say about the cause of death.”

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