A 16-year-old boy, who allegedly shot and killed his grandfather, appeared at Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder.

Brig Leonard Hlathi, provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the court appearance afterwards, and that the boy was arrested on Sunday in Dullstroom.

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“The next court date will be determined after the probation officer has prepared a report for the prosecutor,” he said.
Community members are still in shock. “Everyone is quiet about the matter. We do not know much about what really transpired,” they said.

“According to the information made available, the teenager had a heated argument with his grandfather, to a point where he allegedly went to his grandfather’s room, grabbed a pellet gun, came back and allegedly shot the old man with it,” said Hlathi.

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“A member of the public informed the police about the incident. The police and paramedics quickly rushed to the scene and the grandfather was declared dead by the medical personnel. Preliminary investigations unearthed that the man had a gunshot wound in his upper body, so the boy was immediately charged for the old man’s murder.

“The firearm has been taken in for a ballistics test. The police are working together with probation officers in this case and the case docket will be handed over to the director of public prosecution for a decision,” he concluded.
The boy is a minor, and as such may not be identified.