A Mpumalanga chief briefly appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on charges of negligent handling of a firearm and defeating the ends of justice today, Thursday, October 23.

Chief Sive Benedict Khumalo (42) was arrested yesterday on charges relating to the shooting death of his nine-year-old son in July last year. He was granted R8 000 bail and his next court appearance was scheduled for tomorrow, October 24, pending further investigations.

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Mpumalanga police reported that Khumalo was driving his blue Ford Ranger near Chweni Trust, outside White River, when the shooting occurred on July 3, 2024.

Khumalo allegedly went to the police station and claimed that he had seen a man pointing a firearm at him and his nine-year-old son. He alleged that the man shot his son inside the vehicle, after which he managed to drive away. Khumalo said he took his son to the hospital, where the child later died from his injuries.

It took police detectives over a year to investigate the incident thoroughly. “The investigations revealed that Khumalo’s two children had been playing with the firearm, and one was accidentally shot during the process,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe. “Khumalo was subsequently arrested and charged.”