Eastern Cape police, led by Minister Bheki Cele, introduced methanol as a possible cause of the Enyobeni Tavern mass deaths at a media briefing held on Tuesday.
Methanol found in all victims of Enyobeni Tavern tragedy
In a bid to calm frustrations, Cele, accompanied by provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, Premier Oscar Mabuyane, and director-general of the Eastern Cape’s department of health, Dr Litha Matiwane, provided updates on the latest developments around the investigation.
Thus far, the forensic side of the investigation is still ongoing, and according to Mabuyane, Cape Town’s toxicology laboratory is still busy processing samples extracted from all 21 victims.
While a final report is nowhere near completion, Dr Matiwane did reveal that methanol was found in all samples taken from victims of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy.
Eastern Cape’s health DG added that, at this juncture, it can’t be categorically stated that methanol was the leading cause of the mass deaths.
“We are looking for other things like by-products of methanol,” he explained.
Carbon monoxide was effectively ruled out as no particles of the chemical were discovered in the samples. Moreover, Dr Matiwane confirmed that the alcohol levels examined in the victims were non-fatal.
What is methanol, and is it deadly?
Methanol, according to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC( and Prevention is a colourless and toxic alcohol “that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source.”
Methanol can occur in the human body when one consumes fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, fermented beverages and diet drinks.
The CDC lists two possible ways to produce methanol poisoning in humans:
- drinking beverages contaminated with methanol; and
- drinking products that contain a considerable amount of the toxic alcohol.
Depending on the amount of methanol one is exposed to, they can exhibit the following symptoms:
- accumulation of acid in the blood;
- drowsiness;
- confusion;
- headache;
- nausea;
- heart failure; and among others
- kidney failure
Methanol can be lethal if high concentrations of the chemical are ingested.
“The by-products of methanol metabolism cause an accumulation of acid in the blood (metabolic acidosis), blindness, and death,” the CDC warns.
Will the Enyobeni Tavern owner face murder charges?
The owner of Enyobeni Tavern, Siyakhangela Ndevu, and his two employees have been charged with contravening the Liquor Act, which prohibits the sale of alcohol to underage persons.
As things stand, Ndevu stands to lose his liquor licence and a possible fine but, as confirmed by Cele, there is no evidence to support claims that he or his employees were culpable for the mass deaths.