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 consuming biscuits on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
According to the SAPS, the owner of a local tuck shop had reportedly arranged with his landlord to store stock in the main house after hearing about the looting of tuck shops belonging to foreign nationals in the area. The landlord allegedly ate biscuits from the tuck shop owner’s stock and shared them with his nephew. Shortly afterwards, both reportedly became dizzy and began vomiting.
The pair were taken to a local medical facility, where they were certified dead on arrival. Police said post-mortem examinations will determine the cause of death, while investigations will also seek to establish the source of the biscuits. SAPS has urged community members not to consume foodstuffs obtained during looting, warning that their safety cannot be guaranteed.