NYDA statement on the tavern tragedy in the Eastern Cape
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is disturbed and saddened by the senseless tragedy in the Eastern Cape that has led to the loss of life of 21 young people.
The Agency calls on law enforcement to conduct a transparent and speedy investigation and to hold those who are responsible for this tragedy to account.
We cannot however allow the deaths of young people to be in vain. Twenty years ago, young people died in Chatsworth in a senseless nightclub tragedy. The pain of that has remained with that community and South Africa for two decades. At the time, South Africans collectively asked themselves the question about what young people under the age of 18 were doing in a nightclub. How can it be that we are facing the same tragedy again? Is this illustrative of our lack of progress as a country?
The NYDA will be urgently taking the following steps:
- We will meet with our counterparts at Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Social Development and Communications to understand where the legislation banning alcohol advertising is at and to call for fast tracking of this legislation.
- We will engage our counterparts at the SAPS to understand why clubs and taverns are not being policed effectively. This is not an isolated incidence where taverns are allowing for underage drinking. The might of the law needs to deal with these taverns and clubs which are carrying out illegal activity.
We welcome the decision of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board to suspend the licence of the tavern and we call for a full investigation into the licencing condition of the tavern. We also call on parents and communities to work together with law enforcement in reporting these types of activities.
Ultimately, we need to accept that the longer we lock young people and households out of meaningful economic activity the more they will suffer mental health consequences and often turn to alcohol and substance abuse. Although Youth Day 2022 reflected on the progress to address youth unemployment, we reiterate our call that only an employment guarantee that is universal to all young people can address the crises. We will continue engaging the core government departments responsible for employment in this regard.
Media Enquiries: Bongekile Skosana (NYDA Media Specialist) on 060 978 6000
