EMALAHLENI – Four people have been arrested following the looting of foreign-owned spaza shops in Witbank, while police continue investigating the murder of a 19-year-old man who was fatally shot during the unrest.
The looting followed the deaths of a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew, who allegedly consumed biscuits believed to have been stored after stock was removed from a foreign-owned spaza shop during the unrest. Police have opened two inquest dockets to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths, and no link between the biscuits and the deaths has yet been confirmed.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, the four suspects — three men and one woman aged between 22 and 52 — were arrested on Thursday, 09 July 2026. They were allegedly found in possession of items believed to have been stolen during the looting on Wednesday evening.
Police said the unrest began at a foreign-owned spaza shop in the Siyanqoba area of Witbank, where community members allegedly looted the premises.
It is alleged that while the looting was taking place, a sedan drove past the scene and its occupants opened fire on the crowd.
When police arrived, officers found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound. He was declared dead at the scene, and a murder case was opened.
Police, assisted by other law enforcement agencies, launched operations targeting suspects linked to the looting and the fatal shooting.
Four suspects were subsequently arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property. No arrests have been made in connection with the murder.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that investigations are continuing.
"Four suspects, three males and a female, aged between 22 and 52, were arrested on Thursday, 09 July 2026, in connection with the looting of spaza shops in Witbank. The suspects were found in possession of items believed to have been taken during the looting," said Masondo.
Police said investigations into the murder, the looting and the two inquest cases are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigations is urged to contact the nearest police station, call the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111, or submit anonymous tip-offs through the MySAPS App.
