Comments made by police minister Bheki Cele about the Enyobeni tavern tragedy have received mixed reactions on social media.
Image via Twitter
Insensitive or spot-on? Bheki Cele scolds parents of Enyobeni victims
Are parents to blame for the Enyobeni tavern tragedy as per comments made by Minister of Police Bheki Cele, or is it a shared responsibility?
Comments made by police minister Bheki Cele about the Enyobeni tavern tragedy have received mixed reactions on social media.
Image via Twitter
Bheki Cele has once again riled up South Africans on social with his comments – this time about the Enyobeni tavern tragedy where 21 children lost their lives.
The Minister of Police was speaking to the community of Scenery Park, where the incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
But Twitter users have mixed reactions to his words, which took aim at the parents of the underage children who attended the popular East London nightclub.
ALSO READ: ‘Almost lost my life’: Enyobeni artist shares clip ‘minutes before’ [watch]
WHAT DID BHEKI CELE SAY?
Speaking to a crowd that had gathered in Scenery Park, Bheki Cele revealed that he had come as a “parent” rather than a political figure.
In his address in isiZulu, Cele chastised members of the community – which reportedly included families of the deceased – on why they had allowed their teenage children out late at night.
“I’m not here to nurse feelings”, he told the crowd.
Bheki Cele also touched on his own parenting style towards his children.
He added: “I stay with my boy who is in university in Cape Town. He came back home after 11pm on Friday night and I sat him down and told him you don’t come home after 11pm”.
In 2018, Bheki Cele shared similar sentiments after the kidnapping and murder of Durban school boy Miguel Louw.
Speaking at Louw’s school – Rippon Primary in Sydenham – Cele said in the presence of the deceased child’s parents: “Who are you allowing to put their hands on your children?
“I’m not going to shy away on this one. Parents have the primary responsibility. You are not going to not know where your child is”.
TWEEPS REACT: ‘TOO SOON’ OR THE UNBEARABLE TRUTH?
On Twitter, Bheki Cele’s comments elicited mixed reactions from South Africans.
Many tweeps claimed the minister was “insensitive” to the community that had lost 21 children at the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
@BotsheloSekobe: “Bheki Cele really went to tell grieving parents that it’s their fault the kids are dead. Sies”
@sam_samketi: “Bheki Cele is wreckless for blaming parents for the death of the 20 young people in EC. There’s a group of young people that cannot be controlled. It is the very government that gave children rights over their parents, teachers guidance/ laws. Besides, there’s many other factors”
@sello_Ultipro: “Bheki Cele is out of order. Very insensitive #EnyobeniTavern”
@MduZero11: “No matter how kids choose to defy their parents, no child deserves to die for their mistakes. No parent deserves to bury their child like this. We’ve all defied our parents at some point & have grown to be responsible adults. Bheki Cele’s lack of empathy is appalling”.
Twitter
Other tweeps wholeheartedly agreed with his sentiments.
@Aluta_Continua6: “For the first time I strongly Agree with Bheki Cele… As a parent how do you even go to sleep not knowing where your child is? Parents need to also blame themselves. It’s the truth they don’t want to hear”
@BrightsonSA: “I’m not a fan of Bheki Cele but this time he’s 100% correct”
@ManyathelaSH: “Bheki Cele is right. How do you sleep as a parent when your 13-year-old isn’t around”
Twitter
