After a social media storm broke out that a child was locked in a cold room of a supermarket in Ratanda, south of Heidelberg, in Gauteng, and subsequently died, the community descended on the store yesterday.

The shop’s main door and the manager’s vehicle were damaged, and the Public Order Police and Inyathi Protection Services were called to the scene.

However, it soon emerged that the man who died at Shoprite Ratanda on Sunday was 33 years old. Ratanda SAPS appealed to the community to refrain from spreading false news. According to police, two men were apprehended by store security on Sunday morning for shoplifting and taken to a holding facility at the back of the store, where they were kept until the police could arrive.

‘Stomach pains’ and then death

Heidelberg Nigel Heraut reported that at around 16:00, one of the men asked to go to the toilet. He later reportedly told the security guard he was experiencing stomach pains.

Paramedics were called and arrived at the store at 20:58. The man was declared dead, and the police were notified. They arrived at the store at 21:10.

Ratanda SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Moss Maluleke confirmed the death and age of the man, while it was also confirmed that the matter is under investigation.

Supermarket responds

Shoprite Holdings issued a statement regarding the incident, which reads: “The supermarket chain extends its condolences to the family following their loss.

“The allegations are seen in an extremely serious light and the necessary steps will be taken pending the outcome of a full investigation.

“We cannot comment on the details of the incident as it is a police matter, and the local SAPS should be contacted for more information.

“We always give our full co-operation and provide all available information to the SAPS to assist their investigations.”