While Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj Gen Zithulele Moses Dladla expressed his shock at the alleged accidental shooting of a 7-year-old child in Libode yesterday morning, 3 September 2021, he expressed his condolences to the Zide family for this unfortunate tragedy.

It is alleged that on Sunday, 3 October 2021 at about 10:40, three cousins (all minor) were playing together at their home in Siqikini location when they found a firearm under the bed. While one of the children, an 11-year-old boy was fiddling with the firearm (9mm pistol) a shot went off fatally wounding Kwanele Zide (7) in his head. .

It is further alleged that the firearm belonged to his 49-year-old grandfather. The grandfather was arrested and detained on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is expected to appear in the Libode Magistrates’ Court soon.

A case of murder was opened. The 11-year-old minor was not arrested. Ownership of the firearm is yet to be established.

Maj Gen Dladla has strongly condemned the negligence and reiterated that every day a loved one is brutally murdered with a firearm. It is even sadder when families have to mourn the death of children through unfortunate incidents such as this one all because of a firearm and very often an illegal firearm that would change a family’s life forever. I urge communities to assist the police in curbing the proliferation of illegal firearms. In so doing, we will be protecting our children and communities thus people would not be left mourning because of the illegal firearms being in circulation.

Source: South African Police Service