HAZYVIEW – A 13-year-old boy committed suicide on Friday shortly after he had accidentally shot and killed his 11-year-old friend with his father’s firearm.
The incident happened at Ludlow Trust in Manyeleti. Police spokesman Col Leonard Hlathi said that the boys – Kingslord Mhlongo (11) and Vutiri Mashabane (13) – went to the latter’s house after school that day. Mashabane took his father’s firearm which was stashed underneath a mattress and they played with it. A shot went off and Mhlongo was hit. He died on the scene. Mashabane went to the back of his parents’ house and killed himself with the very same firearm.
Mr Shiboy Shipalane (63), owner of the weapon, appeared in the Mhala Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of the negligent handling of a firearm. He was released on warning and has to appear again on September 27.
Provincial commissioner Lt Genl Thulani Ntobela strongly condemned the incident. Legislation dealing with the handling of firearms depicts that anyone who fails to lock a firearm in a prescribed safe is guilty of an offence. Section 120 (8)(a) of the Firearm Control Act 60 of 2000, stipulates that a person is guilty of an offence if he or she fails to lock away his or her firearm or a firearm in his or her possession in a prescribed safe, strongroom or device for the safe-keeping when such firearm is not carried on his or her person or is not under his or her direct control.
“The reason why these laws were effected, was for these particular pertinent issues so as to avoid unnecessary fatalities and negligent losses,” Ntobela said.
“The public should be aware that if found guilty on the above mentioned offence, one maybe convicted to a lengthy sentence not excluding the possibility of being declared unfit to possess a firearm. Section 102 (1)(d) allows the registrar to declare a person unfit to possess a firearm, on the grounds of information contained in a statement under oath, or affirmation including a statement made by any person, has failed to take the prescribed steps for the safe keeping of any firearm.”
