Four people have been arrested in connection with the looting of spaza shops in Witbank, Mpumalanga, while police have also opened a murder investigation after...
Four people have been arrested in connection with the looting of spaza shops in Witbank, Mpumalanga, while police have also opened a murder investigation after a 19-year-old man was shot dead during the unrest.
The suspects, three men and one woman aged between 22 and 52, were arrested on Thursday, 9 July 2026. Police said they were found in possession of items believed to have been stolen during the looting of spaza shops on the evening of Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
According to police, the arrests followed operations conducted by officers in Witbank, with support from other law enforcement agencies. The operation targeted individuals linked to both the looting incidents and the fatal shooting reported on the same night.
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Police said the four suspects have been charged with possession of suspected stolen property. Investigations are continuing to establish whether additional charges may be brought as the inquiry progresses.
Authorities also confirmed that a murder case has been opened following the death of a 19-year-old man in the Siyanqoba area of Witbank. The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation.
Police said preliminary information indicates that a group of community members had gathered at a spaza shop owned by a foreign national, where looting was taking place. During the incident, a sedan vehicle allegedly drove past the area.
The occupants of the vehicle allegedly fired shots randomly into the crowd before leaving the scene. Police have not disclosed the identity of the occupants or the possible motive behind the shooting.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound. Emergency personnel certified him dead at the scene. Police have not released the victim’s identity.
Law enforcement agencies have continued operations in an effort to locate other people believed to have been involved in both the looting and the fatal shooting. Police said the search for additional suspects remains ongoing.
