Talk of the Town

Talk IT ABOUT Facebook Question

- Compiled by TK MTIKI

How do we ensure that an incident like this never happen again

Online TotT readers weigh in on East London tavern tragedy with solutions Mzwandile Pikoli said: “To encourage our children not to take drugs or intoxicati­ng liquor is a good attempt. Yes our children have more rights nowadays but we can't keep quiet. We have to try to do something to stop them from doing things that might lead them into the ditch.”

Joc Guest said change ruling party for one that governs thus improving law enforcemen­t and providing alternate entertainm­ent facilities for the youth.

Anton Pearson said put discipline back into the home and school.

Noelene Lee said a restoratio­n of law and order, obey bylaws, obey alcohol laws and parental authority. She also said carelessne­ss and a total abdication of responsibi­lity at all levels.

Graeme Kelbrick said “it’s simple, the Police must do their work, and it’s as easy as that”.

Ria Muller Greaves said: “But the buck stops at the parent of an under aged child, always.”

Colleen Denniss said taverns should be strict with the rules and laws and should be monitored by the police and parents should be stricter as to what their children are up at all times.

Jenise Erasmus responded to Denniss’ commenting saying the industry was ungoverned and until that changed, nothing would.

Carol Oliver asked: “If these were teenagers why were they in a tavern at that time? What about their parents allowing this?”

Lucille Marais said this should not have happened in the first place. “RIP precious angels.”

Tim Ord said: “Let us wait and see what consequenc­es there are for the owner. Illegal business, no business license, no safety measures.”

Charline Middleditc­h seconded Ord’s comment saying: “Yes the owner is to blame full. BUT the responsibi­lity of where your children are and what they are doing is on the parent. The owners should not be playing parent as well. The parent is where good solid solutions and foundation­s are built.”

Sandi Barker Danckwerts echoed Middleditc­h’s view saying: “Have to agree, that is the problem in our society today, children have no respect for their parents and do as they please. Parents negotiate with their kids, they do not parent.”

Chris Boyd asserted: “It takes a village to raise a child. Everyone, everyone has a role to play and a responsibi­lity that must be exercised.”

Arnaldo Nombambela asked: “How about studying, practicing and teaching the Bible?”

Bryan Robinson said indiscrimi­nate licencing with little to zero policing was a major reason for the tragedy.

Hendrik Pretorius said you start with holding the parents responsibl­e.

Trish Shearar shared these sentiments saying: “What are all these under-age children doing in a tavern and where we're the parents. Don't they know where their children go to. They are responsibl­e.”

Cobie Hönicke agreed, saying: “We hold the parents accountabl­e.”

Dave Duncan challenged Hönicke’s statement saying: “Let’s focus on what killed them rather than why some of them were there to start with. There was something very wrong in that tavern, [possible causes edited from this comment] that’s what killed these people and whoever is responsibl­e for that is who must answer.”

Leaza Tobias said: “The first step in preventing this happening again is for children of this age to be at home and not in a tavern or shebeen. Second step is for tavern owners or managers to be responsibl­e and enforce the laws of no under 18s permitted in the venue.”

Jenny Pahl said: “No-one should have died, regardless of their age. Would people respond differentl­y if they were all over 18 years and say it was okay then?”

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