Deadly illegal brews claim four more EC lives

Four more people have died after drinking lethal moonshine, bringing to 13 the number of deaths in the province from the consumption of home-brewed alcoholic concoctions.

The fatal trend has emerged during the national lockdown. Regulations have prohibited the sale of alcohol, and the booze ban will only be lifted on Monday under alert level 3.

The latest victims to perish after drinking a lethal concoction are three relatives — a husband, wife and their nephew — and a family friend.

The family members died between Monday and Wednesday morning, while the friend died last week.

Concerned neighbours said the couple and their nephew, who lived at Ilitha Township outside King William’s Town, started vomiting before they were rushed to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, where they died a few hours after admission.

The names of the dead cannot be released because family members have not yet been informed.

The Dispatch reported on Sunday that nine people in Stutterheim, the Keiskammahoek village of Bumbane and Nonibe village outside King William’s Town had died after drinking deadly brews which including methylated spirits.

The Dispatch spoke to neighbours of the latest victims on Wednesday.

Ilitha resident Nontombi Maxayi said a person who was close to the family had died last week.

“She died after she complained of having a headache. She was also in the company of these three and they were drinking together. We want the people selling this concoction to be arrested.”

Another neighbour, Milisa Mngxekeza, said the family’s first death occurred on Monday, after the woman complained of feeling sick. “She had to be rushed to hospital by her husband. Her husband had to push her around the hospital until she was admitted.

“He left them there and came back home. On arrival at home, he received a call that his wife has died,” said Mngxekeza.

A day later, both the husband and nephew took ill. “In the early hours of Wednesday morning, he [husband] had to be rushed to the hospital where he later died. It’s the same thing that happened to his nephew,” said Mngxekeza.

“These people drank an illegal liquor that is killing people, yet no-one is being arrested for that.”

Noluthando Jayiya said the deaths had shocked the small community. “We didn’t expect this to happen, they don’t deserve to die like this. This is

These people drank an illegal liquor that is killing people, yet no-one is being arrested for that

murder and the person should be charged.”

A police case had not yet been opened because the victims died in hospital.

Questions were sent to provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, but he had not responded at the time of going to press.

Eastern Cape police have appealed to all community members not to experiment with homemade beer and alcoholic mixtures.

Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci told the Dispatch on Sunday that police had opened several dockets in different communities about people drinking concoctions.

Qonce Liquor Traders Association secretary Christopher Nomtoto said it was saddened by the deaths of the 13 people. “We call on government to immediate take action.”