Ten killed in Johannesburg stampede
Ten people were killed in a stampede during New Year celebrations at a tavern in a South African township, police said today.
The cause of the incident at the bar in the Ipelegeng township in the largely rural North West province could not be confirmed, police spokeswoman Adele Myburgh told the Associated Press.
She said the victims had not yet been formally identified.
Provincial safety officials suspect some of those killed were below the country’s legal drinking age of 18, and urged police to investigate safety precautions taken by the tavern owner.
Official Desbo Mohono said the incident was “the worst New Year celebration disaster” in the province’s history.
Authorities appealed for calm in the small community.
