Police have opened two inquest dockets following the deaths of a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew in Witbank, Mpumalanga, after they allegedly consumed biscuits believed to have been taken from a local spaza shop during unrest in the area.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, according to Mpumalanga police.
Biscuits Allegedly Removed During Fears of Looting
Police said the tuckshop owner, a foreign national, reportedly moved stock to the main house of his landlord after learning that foreign-owned spaza shops were being looted in the area.
It is alleged that the landlord later consumed some of the biscuits and shared them with his young nephew.
“Shortly afterwards, both of them started feeling dizzy and vomiting,” police said.
The man and child were rushed to a local medical facility but were declared dead on arrival.
Inquests Opened
Authorities have launched two inquest investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“The source of the biscuits and the cause of death will be determined through post-mortem examinations,” police said.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the food was contaminated or what may have led to the sudden illness.
Police have urged members of the public not to consume food items obtained during incidents of looting.
“Police urge members of the community not to consume foodstuffs obtained during looting, as their safety cannot be guaranteed,” authorities warned.
Unrest Spreads to KwaZulu-Natal
The incident comes amid heightened tensions linked to anti-immigration protests.
On Tuesday, a tuck shop in the Cornubia Housing area of Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, was ransacked after a large group allegedly stormed the business and looted stock and valuables.
The unrest followed a march in Durban where thousands of demonstrators called for stronger action against undocumented immigrants. While many of the protests were peaceful, authorities warned that criminal elements could exploit the situation.
According to the KZN VIP Group, multiple individuals forcibly entered the Cornubia tuck shop and looted an undisclosed amount of stock and valuables before fleeing the scene.
The full extent of the losses and damage has not yet been established.
Police say investigations into both the Witbank deaths and the looting incidents are ongoing.
