Man and nephew die after allegedly eating biscuits
A man and his nephew died in Mpumalanga after allegedly consuming biscuits from a spaza shop, prompting a police investigation. The incident occurred amidst local unrest involving the looting of shops owned by foreign nationals.
Why it matters
The event underscores rising social tensions and xenophobic violence in South Africa, alongside concerns over food safety in informal retail sectors.
Mpumalanga police have opened two inquest cases for investigation after a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew allegedly died after eating biscuits taken from a local spaza shop on Wednesday.
According to the police, after hearing that there was looting of tuck shops belonging to foreign nationals in the area, the tuck shop owner, who is a foreign national, had allegedly arranged with the landlord to store his stock in the main house.
The landlord allegedly consumed some of the biscuits and shared them with his nephew.
Police spokesperson Col Mavela Masondo said shortly afterwards, both of them started feeling dizzy and vomiting.
“They were taken to a local medical facility where they were certified dead on arrival,” he said.
Masondo said the source of the biscuits and the cause of death will be determined through post-mortem examinations.
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