21 Enyobeni tavern victims had methanol - fake alcohol in their blood, preliminary results show

Methanol, an alcoholic substance commonly found in cleaning products, has been detected in the bodies of the 21 teenagers who died at the Enyobeni tavern in East London last month.

This was announced at the briefing by police and the health department on Tuesday.

Eastern Cape health DG Dr Litha Matiwane said they were still waiting for blood results to see if there had been a toxic level of methanol ingested.

The Eastern Cape's deputy director-general for clinical services Dr Litha Matiwane made the announcement at a briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

The findings are contained in the preliminary report from the Cape Town laboratory which conducted toxicology tests.