Wails of grief have filled a mass funeral for teenagers in South Africa (SA) who died in mysterious circumstances at a nightclub.
Nineteen empty coffins were laid out before thousands of mourners – including South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa – in East London.
The children died 10 days ago at Enyobeni Tavern, attending a party to celebrate the end of mid-year exams.
The youngest of the 21 victims was a 13-year-old girl.
The toxicology report was yet to be concluded, but forensic pathologists have suggested their deaths were caused by something they inhaled or ingested.
The outpouring of grief and shock over their deaths has also brought renewed calls for the legal drinking age to be increased from 18 to 21 in a country that has a reputation for teenage and binge drinking.
Each coffin had a photo of one of the victims in a 3,000-seater marquee in East London, a city in Eastern Cape Province. The coffins have been left empty for cultural reasons
Two of the teenagers have already been laid to rest, while the others will be buried separately over the next few days.
Wearing a black outfit with her hands on her head, one of the relatives wailed “Oh umtanam umkile nyani” (Oh my child is really gone) as the service got underway.
Pupils, some in school uniform and others wearing T-shirts bearing the faces of the victims, were also there to remember their friends.
Addressing the mourners, Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, expressed how South Africa had been left saddened.
“Please understand that as a nation we are hurt by what has happened, the families of these children had hoped that one day they would be successful and that these children would one day give their families a better life,” he said.
Relatives have been taking turns to read obituaries, sharing nicknames and other endearing memories.
One has said: “We were hoodwinked by your death, we had high hopes for your bright future and that you’d pull your family out of poverty but you have now perished.”
One of the relatives looked at President Ramaphosa and said: “Mr President, we are tired, the black nation is fast perishing right before our eyes.” -BBC
