Police in South Africa say an 11-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed a farm worker while trying to shoot at guinea fowls on a farm in Limpopo province.
Authorities said the child “accidentally discharged” the weapon, though investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The boy’s 43-year-old father has been arrested and is expected to face charges related to the negligent handling of a firearm. Both father and son are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Police officers who arrived at the scene reportedly found the victim, believed to be in his 30s, lying on his side with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday in Thabazimbi, has sparked renewed calls for stricter firearm safety measures and greater parental responsibility in the country. The weapon has since been confiscated as evidence.
“This tragic event is a stark reminder that firearms must always be handled with care and stored securely,” said Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
She urged parents and guardians to ensure children never have access to firearms “under any circumstances.”
Reports from local media indicate that the shooting has left the farming community in shock and reignited debates about the dangers of unsecured weapons in rural households.
Earlier this month, police in the Eastern Cape opened a murder case involving an eight-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed his seven-year-old cousin using his father’s firearm. The child’s 48-year-old father was charged with failing to properly secure the weapon.
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