President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally broken his silence about Enyobeni tragedy which saw 21 teenagers losing their lives inside the tavern.
The president said this has a bad reflection on the nation that South Africa has a drinking problem. Ramaphosa said the country should use the deaths of these minors to have an honest conversation about underage drinking.
“A number of young people from Scenery Park have told the media of having seen a post circulated on social media, offering free rounds of alcohol to all who attended the event that night.
The increased social acceptability of young people drinking alcohol has become a serious problem in a country where the majority of the drinking population are already classified by the World Health Organisation as binge drinkers,” said Ramaphosa.
He adds that underage drinking has an adverse impact on the future of the young generation who most of the time will end up not attending school, or being emotionally available to make sound decisions about their lives.
Ramaphosa’s statement has however been slammed by his staunch supporters who feel he is not solving anything by simply releasing statements instead of taking action.
They claim that releasing statements should be done by the opposition, not by a president who has power to change things in the country.
“Yet you are the president of this country who has massive powers and do absolutely nothing. Stop releasing statements like you are in opposition benches. Start acting like the president and do as a president should do,” said Ramaphosa’s loyalist.
“Worst president we’ve ever had, you said our country is your side hustle and you are proving that every day, Cyril what is it with you? Some critics inquired shocked by the president’s lack of desire to do the right thing.
According to the Buffalo City Municipality in East London, Scenery Park where Enyobeni tavern is located is home to 19 taverns. Various stakeholders will conduct a compliance blitz after the tragedy that claimed 21 lives of partying teenagers.