A community in Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape has been left devastated after an 11-year-old boy was fatally shot on Wednesday, 10 December. The incident occurred in the Phezu kwe Wilo locality, where a 14-year-old boy allegedly discharged a homemade firearm belonging to his father.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers arrived at the scene to find the younger boy already deceased. SAPS spokesperson WeliIe Matyolo confirmed that the gun was reportedly kept loaded in the drawer of the headboard and that the older boy’s father admitted to leaving it there.
A case of murder has been opened, and police are currently searching for the 14-year-old suspect. Authorities say charges against the father are also being considered, as investigations continue into how the teenager gained access to the weapon.
Police have again urged communities to ensure firearms licensed or otherwise are securely stored and kept out of reach of children to prevent tragedies of this nature.
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