Mpumalanga police have launched two inquest investigations after a 43-year-old man and his young nephew died shortly after allegedly eating biscuits. Image: SAPS
Mpumalanga
1Min
South Africa
Man and four-year-old nephew die after allegedly eating biscuits stored during spaza shop looting
Mpumalanga police have launched two inquest investigations after a 43-year-old man and his young nephew died shortly after allegedly eating biscuits that had been stored at a house following the looting of a local spaza shop.
Police in Witbank, Mpumalanga, have opened two inquest dockets following the deaths of a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew, who allegedly became ill after eating biscuits linked to a local spaza shop.
In a statement on Thursday, police said that the incident occurred on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Preliminary information suggests that the owner of the spaza shop, a foreign national, had moved some of his stock to the home of his landlord for safekeeping after reports of looting targeting foreign-owned tuckshops in the area.
Police say the landlord allegedly ate some of the biscuits that had been stored at the house and shared them with his four-year-old nephew.
Shortly afterwards, both reportedly began experiencing dizziness and vomiting. They were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they were declared dead on arrival.
Police have opened two inquest dockets to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Police said post-mortem examinations will be conducted to establish the cause of death, while investigators will also determine the origin and condition of the biscuits consumed.
Police have urged members of the public not to eat food items obtained during incidents of looting, warning that their safety and quality cannot be guaranteed.
The investigation is ongoing.
