NATIONAL NEWS - The police in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, have launched an investigation after a farm worker was accidentally shot and killed, allegedly by an 11-year-old boy, early on Saturday morning.
According to Polokwane Review, Limpopo police said officers responded to a shooting on a farm and, upon arrival, found the body of a man in his 30s lying on his side with a gunshot wound to the upper left chest.
Paramedics were called to the scene and declared the victim dead on arrival.
“Preliminary investigations suggest the child had been shooting at guinea fowls on the property when he accidentally discharged the firearm, striking the farm worker. The boy’s father (43) was arrested and charged with negligent handling of a firearm,” police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says.
He adds that the weapon and cartridge were confiscated as evidence, and that both the father and the minor (in accordance with the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008) are expected to appear in the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court today.
What the Child Justice Act says
According to a Department of Justice and Constitutional Development information booklet on the act, while a child under the age of 10 years cannot be arrested, a child older than 10 years but below the age of 14 years is presumed to lack criminal capacity unless the state proves that he/she has criminal capacity.
Such a child can be arrested.
In terms of the act, an informal process called a preliminary inquiry will be held within 48 hours of the child’s arrest, before the first court appearance.
The preliminary inquiry will be attended by a magistrate, the child, his or her parents, a prosecutor and a probation officer, among others.
These parties will speak to the child and discuss the factors that may have led to the offence. They will also seek ways to help the child accept responsibility and prevent further criminal behaviour.
If the child accepts wrongdoing, a plan is created to address the offence and encourage rehabilitation.
Provincial commissioner responds
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe expressed deep concern over the tragedy and emphasised the importance of responsible gun ownership.
“This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder that firearms must be handled with the utmost care and stored securely at all times. Parents and guardians must ensure that children do not have access to weapons,” she said.
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