Police open inquests after man and four-year-old die after eating biscuits from tuckshop

Police in Mpumalanga have opened two inquest dockets after a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew died after consuming biscuits believed to have been taken from a local tuckshop, authorities said.

What happened

Police said the incident occurred in Witbank on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. According to the statement, the owner of the tuckshop, described as a foreign national, reportedly moved his stock to the main house of his landlord after learning that foreign-owned spaza shops were being looted in the area.

Police allege that the landlord consumed some of the biscuits and shared them with his four-year-old nephew.

"Shortly afterwards, both of them started feeling dizzy and vomiting,"

The pair were rushed to a local medical facility but were declared dead on arrival, police said.

Investigations under way

Authorities have opened 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 warning to the public

While investigations continue, police cautioned members of the public against consuming 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,"

the statement said.

Related incidents mentioned by police

The report also described a separate incident in KwaZulu-Natal, where a tuck shop in the Cornubia Housing area of Verulam was left ransacked after an alleged group forced entry and looted stock and valuables. A security company, the KZN VIP Group, said:

"Multiple community members forcibly entered the business premises and looted an undisclosed amount of stock and valuables before fleeing the scene,"

and added that the full extent of losses and damage had not yet been established.

What police say about protests and security

The report noted that the alleged looting followed protests in parts of Durban where demonstrators called for action against undocumented immigrants, and that authorities warned criminal elements could exploit heightened tensions, with police and private security on alert in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.