WITBANK, MPUMALANGA — Two inquest dockets have been officially opened by the Witbank police in Mpumalanga following the mysterious deaths of a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew, who allegedly perished after consuming biscuits from a local spaza shop. The fatal incident, which unfolded on Wednesday, has sparked a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the contaminated food.
According to a statement issued by law enforcement on Thursday, the tragedy stems from a precautionary measure taken by the spaza shop’s owner, a foreign national. Fearing for his business after hearing reports of looting targeting immigrant-owned tuck shops in the surrounding area, the shopkeeper arranged to temporarily relocate his inventory. He struck a deal with his landlord to store the stock inside the main house for safekeeping.
It was from this relocated inventory that the 43-year-old landlord allegedly consumed some of the biscuits. He subsequently shared the snacks with his four-year-old nephew.
The situation took a grim turn shortly after they ate the food. Both the man and the young boy suddenly began suffering from severe dizziness and vomiting. In a desperate bid to save their lives, they were urgently transported to a nearby medical facility. Tragically, medical personnel were unable to revive them, and both were certified dead on arrival.
Authorities have confirmed that the exact cause of the fatalities, as well as the precise origin of the biscuits, remains under investigation. Post-mortem examinations are currently being conducted to determine how the snacks became lethal and to establish the definitive cause of death.