More than a thousand bereaved family and community members attend the East London, South Africa funeral for 21 teens who died in a strange nightclub tragedy about two weeks ago.

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa was to deliver the eulogy for the deceased youth.

A big choir sang mournful hymns as 19 coffins were carried inside the large tent where the service is being held in the Scenery Park neighborhood of East London. Respecting the requests of some families, two families contained private burials, and the service organizers said the caskets on display were empty. They said the children would be interred in several cemeteries on Wednesday night and in the coming days.

As the tent reached capacity, an increasing number of mourners sat outside.

It is still unknown what caused the deaths of the 13- to 17-year-olds whose remains were discovered at the Enyobeni bar. All were under South Africa's legal drinking age of 18 years old. Pathologists analyze blood samples to determine the cause of death. Police have ruled out a stampede because none of the victims' bodies exhibited severe injuries.

19-year-old Sinovuyo Monyane, employed by the club to promote an alcohol brand, stated last week that she was "confused" but grateful to be alive.

She stated that she struggled to leave through a crowded door.

"We attempted to move through the crowd while yelling 'please let us through,'" she told AFP. "Others were shouting 'we are dying, guys' and 'we are suffocating' and 'there are people who can't breathe'."

"I lost consciousness at that time. I was running out of breath, and the air smelled strongly of some form of spray. We believed it to be pepper spray "She stated,

She eventually recovered consciousness after being splashed with water.

"I stood up and saw that there were bodies on the ground. I observed people receiving water, but they did not even move "She stated during a telephone interview. I could have perished.

A gloomy atmosphere pervades the area surrounding the seedy bar, where some residents have placed wreaths and flowers. Authorities have shut down the pub amid queries about how many minors could have gathered in an establishment selling alcohol on June 26 after midnight.

Community people assert that underage drinking is a well-known issue.

Ramaphosa's remarks at the service come as he faces several obstacles, such as South Africa's prolonged power outages, widespread claims of corruption, and suspicions about significant quantities of cash supposedly stashed in furniture on his game farm.

In addition to Ramaphosa's eulogy, the funeral service will feature hymns performed by local choirs and remarks from family members and religious and community leaders.