The infamous Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park is back in business but it has switched from selling alcohol to trading empty bottles.
It will be one year on June 26 since the tavern made international headlines when 21 teenagers died at the establishment.
The tavern was closed down after the incident, with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board revoking its licence.
The tavern’s owner Vuyokazi Ndevu and her husband, Siyakhangela Ndevu, the manager, face charges of contravening the Liquor Act for allegedly selling alcohol to minors.
Ndevu, speaking to the Daily Dispatch at his premises in Scenery Park, confirmed that he had now resorted to selling empty liquor bottles to make a living.
The Dispatch spotted two men carrying empty bottles to sell to him.
Ndevu buys the cheaper empties in the township and later trades them at a higher price.
Ndevu said after the tavern was closed down, he sold the remaining stock to other establishments, which is declined to name, to try recoup his money.
“Life has changed drastically. The tavern has even been vandalised and broken into.
“As a family man one must provide. I will never sit idly and let my children go to bed on an empty stomach.
“I buy and sell empty bottles in other bottle stores and alcohol establishments.
“The time and money I invested in this business, I thought after a certain time I would have gotten returns and continue to expand the business.
“It’s like the R500,000 I invested went down the drain,” Ndevu said.
He refuted claims that he was secretly selling alcohol from the establishment or involved in any other taverns.
After the tragic incident, rumours were rife that Ndevu was running two other taverns in East London.
Life has changed drastically. The tavern has even been vandalised and broken into. As a family man one must provide. I will never sit idly and let my children go to bed on an empty stomach. I buy and sell empty bottles in other bottle stores and alcohol establishments
This was repeated by parents at his court appearances.
Ndevu claimed some residents in his neighbourhood were jealous of his success in running Enyobeni, despite having initially supported his application for a liquor licence.
“They became jealous seeing my success and they started using the same liquor board laws to fight me.
“Once you start selling alcohol in this country you are treated as a criminal.
“When police came here they cordoned the place and kept us all outside thinking I sell drugs.
“That is why Cele [police minister] flew here. I was selling legit alcohol and meat.
“I was an honest businessman. I made plans to save some stock and sold it to other taverns,” Ndevu said.
Inside the walls of where 21 young people died, couches, ottomans and other furniture are strewn around gathering dust.
Two pillars on the top floor still have remnants of balloons draped around them.
“This is my property. I have not decided what to do with it as I’m waiting for court processes to conclude and then decide.
“I don’t have an interest to sell it. I see myself opening another tavern in future. Why wouldn’t I?
“People die in taverns all the time, getting shot or stabbed and it’s not the owner who kills them. Same as with Enyobeni.
“If it was me who fed the children poison I would be arrested. There is no evidence.
“I didn’t kill the children. Even the charge that I sold alcohol to young people, we will see how that pans out,” he said, adding it was heartbreaking that the children had died at the tavern.
However, he said it angered him that the youngsters had come to the tavern when it was already closed.
“Just because people died it doesn’t mean I killed them,” Ndevu said.
He said he had co-operated with the police in trying to get to the bottom of what had happened.
Ndevu maintained his denial that his establishment did not sell alcohol to minors.
“I didn’t sell alcohol to young children and I can categorically say that young children around Scenery Park drink alcohol and they ask old people to buy it for them. I feel targeted.
“Children are still drinking here in Scenery Park today, yet Enyobeni is closed. It’s not my fault.
“I can’t be crucified for other people’s sins. I have no authority to tell children not to drink,” he added.
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