Kamogelo Olaitan
Methanol, a toxic industrial alcohol, was found in the bodies of the 21 young people who died at the Enyobeni tavern in East London last month.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, Eastern Cape Provincial Health Director-General Dr Litha Matiwane said methanol was detected in blood samples from all the deceased.
Explaining what methanol is, Dr Matiwane said it was a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent mostly for home and industrial cleaning agents.
“Methanol is also found normally in alcohol but it’s not supposed to be found in the human body as it can be lethal,” he said.
He said they are still waiting for information to determine if the quantities were at lethal or non-lethal levels and this can’t be declared as the cause of death yet as more lab tests need to be conducted.
Matiwane said they also tested the blood for alcohol and carbon monoxide poisoning but found the levels were not high enough to cause death.
Last week the government promised to send pathology reports to individual families of the victims once the investigations were concluded.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said they will continue working with the pathology services in the province to get answers.
