Seven women, aged between 20 and 26 years of age, were taken to the hospital on New Year’s Eve after reportedly consuming this homebrewed beverage. Two died and three were discharged but one was readmitted later. 

This comes just days after an alcohol ban was announced by president Cyril Ramaphosa as a measure to lessen the strain on hospital trauma units during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa.  

The spokesperson of the Free State Health Department, Mondli Mvambi, tells OFM News that a fourth woman is now also being kept for observation. 

Mvambi thanked local pastor and councillor, Theo Mosala, for taking the patients to hospital and for reporting the incident to the police.

The police were notified of two unnatural deaths by the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein after the group allegedly consumed this homebrewed beverage in a 2-litre bottle. This allegedly caused the deaths of Dieketseng Ratsiu (24) and Grace Manyane (20). The bottle was confiscated for further investigation and has in the meantime been sent for testing.

OFM News/Shirndrè-Lee Simmons