What killed 21 teenagers in a tavern in East London?

South African mourners expressed anger and despair on Monday at the death of 21 teenagers in a tavern over the weekend, as investigating authorities said the youths were probably accidentally poisoned by something they ate, drank or smoked.

The still unexplained deaths of the teens, some of whom were celebrating the end of school exams and others a birthday party, have brought an outpouring of grief and shocked a nation accustomed to injuries linked to a binge drinking culture. Authorities ruled out an earlier-touted notion of a stampede.

Residents of Scenery Park, on the edge of East London, said they had asked authorities to close Enyobeni Tavern down weeks ago because it was serving under-aged kids.

The tavern's licence was revoked on Monday.

At a prayer meeting at a local church, mourners and priests sang, prayed, drummed on hymn books and cried over the loss of the youngsters.

"I'm so devastated. We are so angry," Maxhabiso Sibotoboto, 50, whose 17-year-old granddaughter, Monelo, was among the dead, told Reuters by phone from a church memorial service for them.

"We are so heartbroken, guys. We lost one of our family members, a child who was doing grade 12 (final year) this year.

We can’t accept it," said Yandiswa Ngqoza, an aunt, as she choked back tears outside the morgue dressed in black attire.

"By the look of the child she has no visible injuries," Ngqoza said, before breaking down sobbing. Minutes earlier she had entered the morgue and identified her niece, whose name she did not disclose.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana told Reuters that the youngest victim was a 13-year-old girl.

An emotional Police Minister Bheki Cele had to pause speaking as he started weeping on Sunday, triggering cries among his audience outside a morgue.

"It is either something they ingested which will point to poisoning, whether its food or drinks, or it is something they inhaled," Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for Eastern Cape’s provincial community safety department said by phone on Monday, ahead of a toxicology report still being awaited. He said hookah pipes were visible in CCTV footage of the scene.

"We are ruling out a stampede," he added, after initial media reports suggested this may have been the cause.

Thank you Reuters for this very insightful article.

UPDATE

Investigations have concluded that the cause of death was chemical inhalation (teargas, and exhaust fumes from the generator inside the building)

The building only has 1 entrance/exit door

We also want to know, is it normal that a 13 year old was able to gain access to the tavern?

COSATU is still investigating the matter, however, it has become clear that the facility will have their license revoked, but it is still unclear whether the owners of the tavern will be prosecuted

It has also been said that no further gatherings and functions will be held at the Air BNB