Methanol was found in the blood of all the children who died in the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
This was announced by Police Minister Bheki Cele at a press briefing on Tuesday, 19 July.
Eastern Cape's deputy director-general for clinical services, Dr Litha Matiwane, said this at the press briefing.
The preliminary report from the Cape Town laboratory that performed toxicology tests contains these findings.
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is an organic chemical and the easiest alcohol.
Methanol may cause birth defects of the central nervous system in humans.
Chronic poisoning from repeated exposure to methanol vapor may produce inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), recurrent headaches, giddiness, insomnia, stomach disturbances, and visual failure.
All those who died on that fateful night last month were teenagers, and the youngest was 13 years old. Since the incident, there have been speculations about the cause of death.
Some believed that chemical poisoning was the cause of death and since then, the parents have been anxious to hear what took the lives of their children.
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Their bodies were taken from the scene to Woodbrook mortuary in East London. Upon examination by the pathologists, the theory of stampede as the cause of death was ruled out. The samples were then taken to toxicology in Cape Town for further investigation.
The 21 victims were buried in a mass funeral on 6 July at Scenery Park Sports Field. President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by his cabinet ministers, delivered the government’s message to the bereaved families and the residents of Scenery Park.
