After weeks of tests following the deaths of 21 Enyobeni Tavern patrons, the preliminary toxicology report delivered by the Eastern Cape Department of Health, the cause of death is still inconclusive as evidence suggests possible methanol poisoning with little to no definitive proof.
On Tuesday, and after three weeks of waiting and uncertainty, director-general for clinical services at the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Dr Litha Matiwane, said the preliminary toxicology report revealed methanol poisoning as the possible cause of death for the 21 Enyobeni Tavern victims who died following a pens down party at the tavern in Scenery Park, East London.
The findings are contained in the toxicology report from a Cape Townbased laboratory. Dr Matiwane said the long-overdue report about the deaths of the underage victims was a preliminary one as they were still conducting more tests.
He said in all the blood samples from the victims, there was a presence of methanol,even though at this point it was not conclusive whether the volume of the chemical was lethal or not.
Although it is not clear how methanol entered the bodies of the victims, this report has ruled out binge drinking and carbon monoxide as causes of death of the victims.
Before the preliminary report announcement, a delegation led by Minister of Police Bheki Cele, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth gathered at the Cambridge police station in East London for a briefing of the families of the victims.
