A 36-year-old man, who accidentally shot dead his seven-month-old son with a pellet rifle in GaMashabela village in Limpopo, will appear before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on a charge of murder.

The man was arrested on Sunday after he reportedly accidentally shot his son at their home.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo explained that the infant’s parents rushed him to a local clinic, where he was certified dead on arrival, having suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

“Both parents were interviewed, and it was revealed that the child’s father was hunting for birds with a pellet rifle near their home when the child was accidentally shot. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. Police have confiscated the weapon,” he says.

Mojapelo added that investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Jan Scheepers, has condemned the incident and urged communities to practice safety at all times when handling weapons.