Alien custom claims our youth
Lessons for us all after celebration turns to tragedy
There are two alien customs that have gripped our communities with disastrous consequences.
The first is the so-called after-tears parties, where mourners chill after a funeral and imbibe alcohol.
Then there is the so-called washing of the pens, when pupils celebrate the end of the school term.
The latter is a kasi version of the annual Rage phenomenon, where mainly middle-class students indulge in booze, hookah puffing, and heaven knows what else.
So, it was in this spirit of celebrating the end of the school term last Sunday that 21 young lives were snuffed out in a tavern in East London, Eastern Cape.
The mostly underage children had no place being in a drinking hole, let alone at the ungodly hour of 2am when they were supposed to be in bed.
That this happened during a month dedicated to the youth is a sad indictment on us as a society.
The finger pointing started as soon as the tragedy unfolded. Where did their parents think their children were in the wee hours? How did a licensed establishment allow children as young as 13 to marinate in alcohol?
Where were the police who are supposed to enforce the law? And so on. The truth is that the Enyobeni Tavern “massacre” could have happened at any tavern where impressionable young minds overindulge. It could also have been anybody’s child.
The name of the tavern itself denotes a place of debauchery. It’s a Xhosa word for corruption that should have sounded alarm bells.
As investigations unravel events of that night, we can only commiserate with grieving families, and take valuable lessons as parents and communities.
The sheer number of the deceased shocked us as a nation but many of you know a negligent neighbour whose children are left to the devil’s clutches.
Enyobeni advertised the event online as a birthday celebration, though many there were celebrating the beginning of the school holidays.
You have a reference point next time your child claims to “wash the pens”.