A 11-year-old boy has allegedly shot and killed a farm worker while attempting to shoot guinea fowls on a farm in Thabazimbi, Limpopo province, South Africa.
The police said the child “accidentally discharged” the firearm, although the exact circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation.
The boy’s 43-year-old father has been arrested and is expected to face charges for negligent handling of a firearm.
The incident has raised concerns about firearm safety and parental responsibility in the country, with Limpopo police chief Thembi Hadebe emphasizing the need for secure storage of firearms to prevent children from accessing them.
This incident comes on the heels of another tragic event where an eight-year-old boy fatally shot his seven-year-old cousin with his father’s firearm in Eastern Cape province, highlighting the growing concerns over children’s access to guns in South Africa.
The father in that case was also charged with failure to safeguard the firearm.
These incidents underscore the importance of proper gun handling and storage practices among gun owners in South Africa.
